Ms Mary Finn:

I again thank the committee very much for the opportunity to come along and contribute today. It has been very informative listening to everybody's different perspectives. In summary, it has been very enlightening to see where we will go with work in future. There has been a lot of concentration on the transition into work, how people access work, and employment and the work environment becoming more inclusive, but my point is about retention. Once students become employees or jobseekers transitioning into the workforce - we have already referenced that 80% of people who have a disability acquire it in the workplace - retention and vocational rehabilitation support should be made readily available. Strategic priority number 4 in the competitive employment strategy specifically relates to a vocational rehabilitation programme for Ireland. I would love to see something established. A pilot was meant to have been established to run a vocational rehabilitation programme. I would love to see that going forward and to be involved in it. My hope for the future is to see something in place to support employees as they go through their experience in employment.