Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

From visiting and meeting many of the groups and organisations that work with young people with a disability, sometimes intellectual and sometimes physical, I realise there is significant pent-up demand to allow young people with a disability to participate in the labour force as well as in all the educational opportunities that the State has to offer. I am sure the Deputy supports this objective. As the Deputy knows, I, as Minister, have opened up areas of opportunity in social protection that were not focused on previously, including in respect of young or older people with a disability.

With regard to the youth guarantee and its initial layout in terms of how Europe has indicated it wants to proceed, the relevant authorities have been speaking about young people who are unemployed. Obviously, somebody in receipt of an allowance in regard to a disability is not technically on the live register but may very well wish to participate properly in work and educational opportunities. I would encourage him or her to do so as much as possible.

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