Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for having this scheme and I compliment her on it. I do not expect her to have the answer to my question tonight but she might ask her Department for one. State agencies and local authorities are all supposed to hire a quota of people with disabilities, to give them an opportunity in life to be able to get a job. I wonder whether some of the local authorities, State agencies or Government Departments are taking that role seriously. It is important to give people with a disability opportunities because they have a disability. They are intelligent, bright and well capable of doing work or doing a job if they get the opportunity. Will the Minister get her Department to talk to other Departments, State agencies and local authorities to ensure each of them is taking in the quota the Government has recommended over the years? The Minister has worked hard over the years. Her heart is in the right place. She has certainly helped and supported people with disabilities in her targeted approach in budgets. She has done a superb job and I thank her for that.

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