Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Lynch for raising this important matter before the House, which I am taking on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I hope the Senator is settling in well here in the Seanad. It is a wonderful forum. I was here twice - from 2002 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2020. It is a great forum to raise issues of national importance and local importance such as this.

It is important to note that, under section 159, of the Local Government Act 2001, the chief executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements that are necessary to carry out the functions of the local authority. Each local authority is an independent legal entity and an individual employer. Policy for the Disability Act rests with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the National Disability Authority, NDA, falls under the remit of that Department. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 for the collection of data annually on compliance by local authorities with their obligation to meet the statutory targets set for the employment of people with disabilities. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage submits this data annually to the National Disability Authority and it is included in the NDA's annual report on compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005.

The collection of this data is an important indicator of how local authorities are fulfilling their obligations to ensure people with disabilities can participate in the workforce. In 2023, the most recent year for which data has been published by the NDA, all of the 31 local authorities met the 3% target that applied in 2003. Also on a positive note, in 2023, eight local authorities met the 6% target that applies for 2025. While there is a very high level of compliance by local authorities, I believe there is scope for more to be done by all public bodies.More work is required across the board on recruitment and retention policies and particularly on supporting employees to share their disability status. The National Disability Authority plays a very important role in providing support and guidance to public bodies in this regard.

The local government sector partners with AHEAD on the Willing Able Mentoring, WAM, programme, to offer paid and mentored work placements for graduates with disabilities. The local government sector was recognised at the WAM leaders awards in 2023 and 2024 for participation and support for the WAM programme, which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities. As Senator Lynch said, initiatives such as the WAM programme can help foster improved participation by persons with disabilities in the workplace and it is important that public sector employers lead by example in this way.

Senator Lynch stated her constituent has waited 18 months on the list for a placement and that she, the Senator, would like more clarity and oversight. I am not an expert on this but I would have thought that 18 months was quite a long time. I would not blame Senator Lynch for sharing these reservations. Chief executives are responsible for all staffing matters in local authorities.