Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, at the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, we had a discussion about the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing employment. We heard from the National Disability Authority, NDA, and the Rehab Group, but I was struck in particular by Padraig Hanafin, which is why I wanted to come in on this question. He spoke about his experience as a disabled person trying to access the labour market and about the impact having a full-time job has had on him. There are massive levels of underemployment and unemployment within the disabled community, and this is a very welcome intervention.

This will not be driven by the private sector. It just will not drive it, for whatever reason. Individual companies in small pockets might, but this requires the State to drive it. There is no additional fund required, but Deputy Naughten suggested ensuring that, where money is invested, accessibility is counted as one of the measures as to how effective that investment will be. I was struck yesterday by not only the untapped capacity that is there but also the levels of exclusion felt by some people who are college-educated and job-ready but just cannot seem to break in. this would send a very important message to them as well.

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