Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - Employment of People with Disabilities.

Seán Haughey

Question:

294 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to ensure that people with physical disabilities who are wheelchair bound can find suitable employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5121/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

My Department encourages employers, with suitable employment opportunities, to recruit people with disabilities. Various schemes such as the provision of a wage subsidy through the employment support scheme and the National Rehabilitation Board's "Positive to Disability" initiative have met with success in recent years and encouraged employers to make a more proactive approach.

As a consequence of the reconfiguration of institutional responsibilities for services for people with disabilities the employment supports currently operated by my Department will in future be integrated with other employment measures at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This change will take effect with the establishment of the National Disability Authority and should lead to enhanced employment opportunities for people with a disability.