Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 4

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

142 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current level of participation of people with disabilities in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26649/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 142 together.

Statistics are not currently available on the number of people with disabilities in employment. I understand that the 2001 census will attempt to capture this type of information for the first time.

As regards the integration of people with disabilities into the workforce, the position is as follows. In June 2000, responsibility for the employment and vocational training of people with disabilities transferred from the Department of Health and Children to my Department as part of the Government's policy of mainstreaming services to people with disabilities. In July, I launched a new supported employment programme for people with disabilities, with a budget of £4 million per annum from my Department. Following an assessment of 48 proposals which were received by FÁS, a total of 20 supported employment projects have been approved for funding to the end of 2001. These projects have the potential to place up to 800 people with disabilities in open employment.

In July, I also announced the introduction of grants to companies for disability awareness training and for the re-training of workers who acquire a disability.

Disability awareness training will help to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace by providing co-workers with a better understanding of the needs and capabilities of people with disabilities. Employee re-training grants will enable employers to re-train workers who acquire a disability to retain employment in the same company and in the same job, if appropriate. The operational details of these schemes are being finalised by FÁS and will be available shortly.

In addition to these measures, the Government has made a number of further commitments in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness which fall within the ambit of my Department, aimed at the integration of people with disabilities into the labour force. These include: an increased emphasis on progression from vocational training programmes to employment opportunities in the open labour market; increased funding and promotion of the employment support scheme, which provides a wage subsidy to employers who recruit people with disabilities; increased funding for the workplace/equipment adaptation grant scheme which provides grants to employers for adaptations to the workplace to accommodate people with disabilities; strengthening the profile of the positive to disability scheme, which recognises companies which take a positive approach to the employment of people with disabilities; and funding social partners initiatives which promote the employment of people with disabilities.

Question No. 127 taken with Question No. 101.