Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
328. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of adults on the autism spectrum who gain meaningful employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49047/18]
View answerThere is no data available which specifically measures the number of people on the autism spectrum that are employed in Ireland. The first study measuring the number of people who are on this spectrum in Ireland was completed in 2016 by researchers at DCU, but did not include metrics on employment. My Department has consulted with the Central Statistics Office and Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Health and Justice and Equality who do not have such data. This data cannot be fully captured by any Department or body as employees do not have to inform their employer that they are on this spectrum and indeed may not be aware that they are on it. Both the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and Justice and Equality have policy responsibility in relation to the employment of people with disabilities and a number of policy documents have been published such as, Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities 2017, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.
