Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Chair. My sincere apologies. I have had to be up and down three times to the Seanad this morning already. I appreciate the witnesses being here. Though I did not hear all of the opening contributions, I read everything.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. McCann in 2018 when he won the LEO award in Kildare and went on to win a regional and national award. Without wanting to sound patronising, I know how proud everybody was at those awards in Naas. It has been fantastic to see him going from strength to strength and to hear his story today.

Mr. Hennessy is equally inspirational. I read his statement and realised sadly he had to give up his business because of all the blocks, having done so well and gotten so many awards. When I came to that bit, I was heartbroken. He is a terrific role model, even hearing him speak in some of the interactions here. He made the point that sometimes politicians just accept the answer Departments give; he is right. He said he refused to accept them; he is right. We have to take inspiration from him in asking hard questions and making strong demands.

I was very involved in setting up the OWL scheme in 2016 when I was first elected to the Seanad. I have a connection with Kare in Kildare. I have a brother who has Down's syndrome so I have always had an involvement there. To date it has been an incredible experience to watch the interns grow and develop. Many have gotten permanent jobs here and outside. I spoke to a parent last week at the graduation. While there is Project SEARCH in Tallaght and Naas hospitals, there are many Departments which do not run schemes like that. They really equip people with an opportunity to have a life like I have. I have an opportunity to get up in the morning, go to work, earn an income and feel in some way validated by the choices I have made. That is what we want.

It is incredible work that Professor Cooney does. It is so important. I take on board the six actions he recommends we take. I think he will find we will support that.

We recognise that self-employment and entrepreneurship are particularly important. There is a distinct correlation involving the percentage of people that go that route. I think it is 14.9% and there are 14.9% with disabilities. That means it is working better for people with disabilities because there are so many blocks in the way anyway. Surely it is something we should put more resources into, without a shadow of a doubt.

I think the partnership agreement with Open Doors has been successful. I take note of the issues relating to the social protection barriers that need to be addressed. That is a key issue for the committee. As regards the means testing, it is difficult for a disabled person to put together the capital required. The point was made also about the difficulties in obtaining startup capital due to poor credit ratings. Clúid is a great organisation as regards giving loans to social enterprises and in respect of various housing schemes. I am just wondering out loud, but can something be done with Clúid or a group like it that would specifically support enterprises for people with disabilities? The point was very well made that so much was put in place to support women going back into employment etc., and we need to look at measures now. Of course, the loss of income from social security benefits is a problem. We come across that quite a bit. I wonder, and the witnesses might enlighten me, about what the Department of Social Protection needs to consider as regards the restructuring of long-term disability payments and how it could simplify the system and take account of the findings of the cost-of-disability report under its own analysis that is due to be published.

In addition, Professor Cooney pointed out that employers get plenty of supports to take on people with disabilities but self-employed people with disabilities do not get any supports, even the assistive technology we rightly have in schools now. What are the witnesses' views and considerations in that regard?

It was pointed out that there is a need to change the culture of low expectations as regards people with disabilities. I fully agree because, unfortunately, we tend to have self-fulfilling prophecies in this area. People may not have the opportunity to see the role models that both Mr. Hennessy and Mr. McCann very clearly are, and there are other organisations such as Izzy Wheels, which I happen to know as well.

I have a particular question for Professor Cooney. I note the funding he has had for his online course runs out in 2024. Does he have funding to continue to roll that out?

Professor Cooney mentioned flexi-jobs in Denmark. I would be interested to hear a little more about that.