Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
21. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail progress under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy to support people with disabilities who can work and want to work to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) is Ireland's key policy platform for addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing employment. There have been a number of significant achievements under the Strategy to date.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth funds a disability information service for employers - ‘Employers for Change: A Disability Information Service’. This provides expert peer advice on employing staff with disabilities and enhancing the confidence and competence of employers to employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities. It forms part of a wider Employer Awareness Campaign that the Department will roll out in 2022.
Government is committed to leading by example and increasing the number of persons with disabilities employed in the public sector. The statutory target will move from 3% to 6%. This will be enshrined in primary legislation via the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill) which will be introduced to the Houses in a matter of weeks.
A key success under CES is the decision to allow young people leaving school or rehabilitative training to defer their day service placement by up to 3 years. This allows them to pursue other avenues of life such as further education or employment. Of 206 young people who chose to defer their day service place as part of the pilot to the end of December 2020, only 14 have returned to a day service, with 27 choosing to be removed from the deferral list entirely.
In line with CES commitments, the Public Appointment Service produced its "Guide to Promoting Inclusive Employment."
The ‘Towards Work’ Project was recently launched by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D., focusing on providing further practical support to people with disabilities to enter into the workforce.
The Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Personal Reader Grant, the Job Interview Interpreter Grant; and the Employee Retention Grant exist to support employers in creating disability friendly workplaces.
We have seen increases in the participation by students with physical or mobility disabilities in higher education, and the increased uptake in mainstream education and training options among young people with disabilities.
The third and final Action Plan for the Strategy is currently being developed and will further drive progress under the Strategy.
