Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Co-Chairman, Deputy Curran, for organising this joint meeting. From a health point of view the Government's response to people with disabilities is really cross-departmental because it involves the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport; Housing, Planning and Local Government; and Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Government's response may need to be even broader than just this committee regarding employment. In my constituency of Clare social isolation is a huge problem, particularly in accessing transport for people to get to work and also in getting appropriate housing. The Government's response in making the transition from education to employment encompasses all those other Departments.

In my practice I have met self-employed people with disabilities who are working very well. At the other end of the spectrum I have met people who could easily hold a job but unfortunately have no means of getting there because of the lack of transport. These are very practical issues that can impinge on people's ability to get employment - not only to get education, but then actually to get employment. Those are issues we might explore in the meeting.