Vol. 473 No. 1
28 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that women with disabilities are less likely to be employed, less likely to be in training and more likely to be poor than men with disabilities; and the plans, if any, he has to redress this inequality. [20704/96]
Limerick East): The report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, which was published on 18 November, contains a wide range of recommendations concerning the provision of services to people with disabilities. It refers specifically to the inclusion of women with disabilities and recommends that the National Women's Council address the impact of disability on gender equality. It also recommends that specific action and research should be undertaken to combat the reality of the double exclusion experienced by women with disabilities.
The Government decided, on publication of the report, to establish a committee to monitor the implementation of the commission's recommendations, including the recommendations concerning work and training. This is subject to the submission to Government, in the first instance, of a programme of measures to be implemented, which will be drawn up by an interdepartmental task force on which my Department will be represented. The issues raised by the Deputy will be addressed through these new structures.
