Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 2

Written Answers. - Employment of People with Disabilities.

Michael Woods

Ceist:

37 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for incentives to private sector employers to encourage and assist this sector of the economy in playing its part in ensuring equality of opportunity in the labour market for people with disabilities. [4888/95]

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

38 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the continuing high unemployment rate among people with disabilities; the proposals, if any, he has to introduce extra measures to remove obstacles currently facing disabled persons seeking employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4761/95]

Liz O'Donnell

Ceist:

44 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he has taken in order to achieve the three per cent employment quota for disabled persons in the public service; the present position in relation to people with disability in the public service; and his views on whether a quota of three per cent is high enough. [4878/95]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 38 and 44 together.

I am aware of the high level of unemployment among people with disabilities and I am concerned that further measures are needed which are geared towards improving their employment prospects and job-opportunities.

As I have previously announced in the House, I am bringing forward legislation to extend legal redress against discrimination in relation to employment, which will apply to people with disabilities, along with other disadvantaged groups.

In November 1993, I established the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities which is charged with making recommendations to Government with a view to ensuring greater participation by people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including employment.

I understand that the Commission has been considering the whole question of employment and training, as they relate to people with disabilities, and has appointed a work and training group to draw up proposals in that respect. The Commission is expected to report by the end of the year. When I have examined its recommendations, I expect to be in a position to put proposals to the Government to determine what other measures, in addition to the proposed anti-discrimination legislation, may be required by me or by other Ministers. Pending receipt of the Commission's report, I do not propose to provide incentives to private sector employers in respect of people with disabilities apart from the schemes already administered by the National Rehabilitation Board and the Department of Health.

The Government is committed to the achievement of the 3 per cent quota for the employment of people with disabilities throughout the public sector. The latest information available to me indicates that at October, 1994, the proportion of people with disabilities employed in the Civil Service was 3 per cent. In the case of the health boards and local authorities, the corresponding percentages, as at end 1993, were 1.02 per cent and 1.25 per cent.

My Department is in regular contact with the Departments of Finance, Health and the Environment to ensure that human resource managers in bodies under their control are aware of the Government's commitment to reaching the 3 per cent quota and that every effort is made to reach it as soon as possible.

My Department is represented on the monitoring committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities which operates under the aegis of the Central Review Committee which oversees implementation of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work. The monitoring committee is responsible for promoting and reviewing progress in the employment of people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. I understand that it is actively seeking to ensure that the quota is met in the wider public sector. Pending receipt of the Commission's recommendations, I feel it would be premature to speculate about altering the quota.

In 1994, the Government provided £2 million for a pilot programme for supported employment of people with disabilities in viable business projects. The pilot programme was established in response to proposals put to the then Taoiseach by the Rehabilitation Institute. This programme is being administered by the Department of Health with the assistance of the Department of Enterprise and Employment. An inter-departmental monitoring committee chaired by the Department of Health oversees the pilot programme and an evaluation committee, chaired by the Department of Enterprise and Employment, advises on the viability of business proposals and makes recommendations for funding. My Department is represented on the inter-departmental monitoring committee. This pilot programme is being continued in 1995. My Department is actively involved in planning the expenditure in relation to the continuation of the programme.