Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter and I appreciate it does not fall under his remit. I find the reply to be quite disappointing. I know the statistics that all of the local authorities met the 3% target in 2023 in terms of employing people with disabilities and eight met the target of 6%. As of 2024, the target is meant to be 6% across the board. The figures are disappointing in terms of what we are doing to resolve this.

My understanding from what the Minister of State has said is that there is no requirement for any local authority with regard to these disability work placements. I note that perhaps I should have raised it as a disability issue, but as it was a local authority matter, I felt that was the appropriate Department with which to raise it. It is disappointing to get actual confirmation, as I see it, that there is no obligation regarding these work placements. There is the WAM programme, which is provided via AHEAD, and many local authorities participate in this and it has been very successful in some areas, but this issue is definitely something we need to look into. My constituent has been on this mar dhea list for 18 months and it is disappointing to see there is no actual scheme or accountability. I note the point that all employment lies with the chief executive of each council but this is something we need to look into.