Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
559. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he intends to develop a comprehensive employment strategy for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/13]
View answerSignificant changes to Departmental responsibility have occurred in recent years which place key activation, community employment, vocational training, placement services and other supports, including employer awareness and supports related to the employment of people with disabilities outside the remit of my Department.
The employment and community employment services of FÁS (formerly within the remit of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Innovation) and of the Community Welfare Service (formerly within the Health Service Executive (HSE) have been integrated within the Department of Social Protection (DSP) in 2011-2012.
Current Government employment policies and strategies for which I have responsibility, including the Action Plan for Jobs, are designed to be all-inclusive throughout the workforce and apply across sectors of the economy. Enterprise support provided by my Department and its agencies is available to all, including persons with disabilities. My Department would, however, input to such a strategy.
My Department has commissioned disability audit reports and implemented a significant number of the recommendations in order to ensure insofar as is reasonably practicable that our buildings are as accessible as possible to all members of the public. My Department exceeded the requirement to employ three per cent of persons with a disability for 2011 and continues to monitor performance in this regard. As required under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, the Department’s Monitoring Committee met on several occasions in 2012 to monitor the three per cent target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Department’s agencies. The Committee submitted its Report via the Minister to the NDA by 30th June 2012. Public bodies under the aegis of the Department will shortly be requested to report on the data collection for 2012. The Department's Monitoring Committee will consider the data and compile the report for submission to the Minister and the NDA by 30th June 2013.
