Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire agus táim buíoch de as ucht teacht isteach. Is cuairteoir rialta é sa Teach agus táimid thar a bheith buíoch de faoi sin.

I am grateful the Minister is back in the House and acknowledge that he is here on a regular basis.

To put matters in context, we in Sinn Féin have proposed the establishment of a national disability strategy implementation and monitoring unit, which would set annual targets in order to ensure full delivery of such a strategy. We believe that taking a rights-based approach to policy implementation and change should not be disregarded during a recession. We are committed to protecting income supports and necessary public and social services for people with disabilities.

The gains made in previous years for people with disabilities have been under attack from the Government through its programme of cutbacks. These vulnerable persons are paying for the disastrous policies and practices of the Government, banks and big business which led to the economic collapse. People with disabilities have had their incomes cut. Services are under increasing strain and funding for the voluntary organisations providing services and advocacy services for people with disabilities has also been cut.

The Government should lead by example. The number of public servants has been reduced significantly. My question could be asked of a number of Ministers because it seeks to discover how many people with disabilities work in each Department. What is the Government target for an increase in the level of representation of people with disabilities? Nice policy documents are all very well, but the Government and Departments should be proactive in employing people with disabilities to ensure they are given a chance to be gainfully employed. This would set a good example for other employers. I ask the Minister to provide an indication of the Government's policy on this issue, state the number of people with disabilities employed in each Department and a timescale for improving on that number.