Mr. John Maher:

I thank the Senator for the question. As the Senator knows herself, the local enterprise offices, LEOs are the one-stop shops for anyone looking to start a business. There are training courses, mentoring, and financial assistance available, and those programmes are open to all. In addition, those services are complemented by a range of NGO-affiliated pieces. For example, the LEOs partner with Technological University Dublin on an initiative for entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities. Enterprise Ireland, EI also participates with Open Doors, similarly encouraging entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities.

With regard to the Department, in 2022 we published a report which we had commissioned by the OECD on increasing inclusive entrepreneurship in Ireland, and I think that is a very important report. The committee will be aware of this, but entrepreneurship is a really good path for persons with disabilities to enter the labour market. The rate is not bad. The census shows it to be 14.8%, while the overall rate is 14.1%. However, there are actions which the Department is now taking in terms of strengthening entrepreneurship training for people from underrepresented groups. We are creating a referral system for training courses targeted at specific groups. We will adopt content and method of delivery of the LEO entrepreneurship training and mentoring programmes to suit the needs of different groups in consultation with the representative bodies. We also will roll out standardised training for trainers and mentors in working on diversity and with underrepresented groups. This is an area that is receiving attention and while the list of supports we have there is not exhaustive, it is accessible to all and it is being refined, so there is a balance there.