Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will make a few brief comments. I am delighted that Mr. McKeon has outlined the wide range of services that are available for people with disabilities. The problem is that they were not mentioned in the Action Plan for Jobs. I raised this omission at the time, as we must always look for the ability and not the disability. Just because someone is in a wheelchair does not mean that he or she cannot come in here and do a decent day's work. Unless people's disabilities are severe, they are well able to work and want to work. There are officers in the employment offices to help people with disabilities.

I have always advocated the return of CERT courses. An extended member of my family would not be the greatest academic but he could cook for Ireland. That is his niche, so I have always encouraged him to develop it. I was delighted last Friday when I attended the official opening of the refurbished Kerry College of Further Education in Tralee and found that it ran a course for chefs. One does not need to go through the CAO process to apply. Perhaps the Department of Social Protection should promote courses like these for people who may not want to return to university or academic surroundings when a more practical setting would suit them. We should promote these skills alongside more structured education.