Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Employment is not just about getting people into jobs; it is how to get them there and support them. Reference was made to the fact that only 6% of the cohort use public transport.

There have been no personal transport support schemes since 2013. Those who were in receipt of those prior to 2013 continued to receive them but since then there is only the disabled drivers and the disabled passengers schemes, which are extremely difficult to access. That actually rules out many people particularly in rural areas, or even in urban areas if they cannot get to a bus stop or a train station. It needs be cross-departmental for supports to be put in place in order to give people the dignity of being able to go out to work without having to fight for everything they require. As mentioned, many people have hidden disabilities. In my former job there was a confidential survey on disability and many people were reluctant to fill that out, especially if they had issues around mental health, because they feared they would be stigmatised. We have many people in the workforce who are working without the supports they need because they are afraid to admit that they have a disability.