Vol. 491 No. 3
65 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures, if any, introduced by her Department to discourage discrimination against people with disabilities seeking employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12130/98]
Earlier this year I requested IDA Ireland to submit proposals to me for encouraging the employment of greater numbers of disabled people in companies locating in this country. I understand that IDA Ireland already operates a voluntary code among its overseas sponsored companies by the inclusion of an exhortatory clause in a formal letter which accompanies letter of grant offers to companies. This clause requests companies to give consideration where possible and appropriate to the employment of people with disabilities.
In addition, IDA Ireland is currently having in-depth discussions with a small number of overseas client companies with a view to introducing a pilot programme to bring people with disabilities into the workplace. These discussions are ongoing and involve the co-operation and support of educational and training institutions.
My Department is in the process of assuming overall policy responsibility for the vocational training and employment of persons with disabilities and will carry out its responsibilities in this area with vigour. Each year approximately 200 persons with disabilities complete training in FÁS mainstream training programmes and 1,500 are in community employment schemes.
Later this year FÁS will develop and implement an action programme for people with disabilities. Targets will be set each year and the implementation of the programme monitored. The programme will be supported by a pilot project — Action for Disability. The aim of this project is to test and develop mechanisms to ensure that greater numbers of people with disabilities enter into FÁS programmes.
