Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
707. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the low employment rate of persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16931/21]
View answerThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) 2015 - 2024 is the primary disability employment policy framework in Ireland. It is a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government Departments and Agencies to address the barriers and challenges to employment of people with disabilities. The CES’s strategic priorities are to build skills, capacity and independence, to provide bridges and supports into work, to make work pay, to promote job retention and re-entry to work, to provide coordinated and seamless supports and to engage employers.
Implementation of the Strategy is undertaken through agreed action plans and is monitored by an Implementation Group with an independent Chairperson, Fergus Finlay. Currently the group is monitoring the CES Phase Two Action Plan which covers the period 2019 – 2021.
Accessing and staying in employment for people with disabilities is difficult but can be achieved with appropriate supports. It requires many Government services to work for that individual and importantly to work together to provide a joined-up service. The Action Plan contains a range of actions, to be carried out by Government Departments and agencies, to advance the strategic priorities and ultimately to increase the numbers of those with disabilities in employment.
Separately, the Government will bring forward legislative proposals this year to increase the percentage target of people with disabilities employed in the public service from 3% to 6%.
