Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to date in developing a sectoral plan for her Department under the terms of the National Disability Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17618/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the National Disability Strategy the Sectoral Plan of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the Disability Act, 2005 was published in 2006. It contained, in particular, a number of initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of people with disabilities in the workplace.

In line with the requirement under the Disability Act, 2005 to produce a progress report to the Oireachtas, and a commitment under Towards 2016, a review of the operation of the Sectoral Plan was completed in November, 2009 following consultations with the Department's Consultative Forum on disabilities and other stakeholders. The progress report was laid before the Oireachtas in February, 2010. A copy of the Progress Report may be downloaded from this Department's website (www.entemp.ie). The review indicates that substantial progress has been made on advancing key goals of the Sectoral Plan in regard to employment, training, activation, research, and access to buildings and services.

Under the Sectoral Plan the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has led on the advancement of an outline for a Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities in discussions with other Government Departments and stakeholder representatives on the Department's Consultative Forum. The aim of this strategy is to address the diversity of circumstances, needs and abilities of people with disabilities, and to enhance the operation and effectiveness of the range of FÁS supports and services for facilitating increased participation of the cohort in the labour market. The strategy is being further advanced in discussions in a Cross Sectoral Group comprising relevant Government Departments and state agencies.

In regard to placements in employment the review indicates that 5,210 people with a disability were placed in employment over the period 2006-2008 – the Sectoral Plan contains an employment target of 7,000 over the period 2006-2010. Information subsequently available for 2009 indicate that a further 1,497 people with a disability were placed in employment, representing total placements of 6,707 over the period 2006 –2009.