Ms Marian Hennessy:

I would not be able to comment on LEOs but I am sure Ms Hayes will follow up on that issue. In terms of the loss of allowances, the disability disregard and what else can be offered, the idea of changing that whole process is a good one. We must look at the real costs for somebody with a disability of going to work and that is very much individualised. People will have different needs and for some, getting to work will cost a lot more than for others. The rigours around earnings and how much a person can earn can be problematic. A lot of people with disabilities are only working part time, for 12-15 hours per week, to try to hold on to their disability allowance and to keep within the income levels in order to hold on to their medical card. The loss of a medical card is something that people really worry about. As we get older, we all need access to medical support and for some people with disabilities, the costs can be considerable the older they get.

I agree with the comments on assistive technology for the public service. That is an excellent idea and could really open things up. The role that the ETBs can play is significant in terms of building bridges and links. The ETB in Cork has come on board with us this year but because of Covid, we have not been able to develop that relationship yet. There are lots of courses, particularly QQI courses at levels 3 and 4, that people can complete and it would be very interesting to develop supported employment programmes for people around the country. It would also be important to enable people to access courses online as well.

Reference was made to the fact that information is available for companies, and that is true, but in my experience while there are HR departments and diversity and inclusion committees in larger companies, the issue for many is time. Who is the person in the company to explore this further, to look up the website and to progress it? We are all in the business so we all understand the language but how many people working in IT companies or manufacturing firms know what the wage subsidy scheme means and what it involves? It can be very confusing and even more so because of the additional wage supports that were available during Covid. The promotion of these schemes is key and I know that pre-Covid the Intreo offices did a great job with employer events and information sessions. There is a role for the Department to make the information more accessible for employers. There can also be quite a bit of administration involved with forms and so on. Maybe companies could have a disability champion, one person dedicated to sourcing that type of material. Maybe we have a role in holding employer conferences to impart this information.

Regarding the transition from second level and from third level, it would be great if people leaving school were given an information pack with signposts of where to go next. Similarly, for third level students, if they have a disability and are going out into the workplace or on to a course, some of them will be very self-conscious of their situation and that can be to the forefront when they are communicating with others. Sometimes people feel very overwhelmed. They can feel very stuck after completing their courses and at a loss as to where to go next. If there was funding available to support people when they finish school or college, through a key worker, a job coach or similar, they would feel more confident making that transition. If we all had support on our first day at work and for the first few days as we settle in, it would make all of our lives a lot better. We have all had the sleepless night the night before starting a new job or three or four days after starting when we worry that we have made the worst decision of our lives because we do not know what anyone is talking about. There are simple solutions out there to help people.