Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

At a broad level, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I, like all Ministers across government, are acutely aware of the need of the State to support people with a disability who wish to engage in employment.

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That will be a central pillar of the new national disability strategy. I am aware that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has carried out a comprehensive review of the scheme. I understand there was strong feedback from businesses and employees who availed of it to the effect that it was complex. The Minister has introduced a new streamlined programme of supports for workers with disabilities. It is called the work and access programme and I understand it will form part of the new disability strategy, but I emphasise again that employment is absolutely central. Our employment rate for persons with disabilities is far below the European average and we are absolutely committed to tackling that within the new strategy.

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