Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
121. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to support groups facing additional challenges accessing work such as lone parents, persons with disabilities and minority groups include Travellers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24686/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathways to Work 2021-2025, the Government’s national employment strategy, was published in July of last year. The aim of the strategy is two-fold: to support those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, and helping those who, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, already faced disadvantages in the labour market.
One of the strategy’s five key strands is ‘Working for All – Leaving No One Behind’, which has the objective of promoting better labour market outcomes for all, including those facing additional barriers to work such as lone parents, people with disabilities and minority groups including Travellers. Pathways to Work has targeted measures aimed at reducing unemployment for each of these groups.
For example, a key goal in the Pathways strategy is to increase employment rates of people with disabilities. Measures aimed at helping people with disabilities find employment include implementing the Early Engagement Roadmap for jobseekers with disabilities who wish to voluntarily engage with my Department’s employment services.
The Traveller and Roma community face particular disadvantage in the labour market. Pathways to Work commits to engaging with community representative bodies to produce Traveller (and/or Roma)-specific employment service engagement tools and developing a Traveller and Roma training, enterprise and employment plan. My Department is currently engaging on a cross-Departmental basis and with Traveller representative groups to progress these commitments.
Moreover, since a Government decision in December 2021, my Department, through its Intreo offices, will promote more referrals to Community Employment schemes for people most distant from the labour market including persons with disabilities, members of the Traveller and Roma communities, ex-offenders and lone parents, who meet the eligibility criteria.
Overall, a strong recovery in the labour market is leading to significantly more employment opportunities than was envisaged when Pathways to Work was launched in July 2021. While this development is welcome, I am keenly aware some groups continue to face challenges in accessing employment.
I have asked the Labour Market Advisory Council to submit a report to me later this year on progress in the implementation of Pathways to Work commitments, including those relating to supporting groups facing additional challenges accessing work.
