David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the labour force initiatives he intends to lead in order to bring more people with disabilities into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23888/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities. In particular, we are committed to removing the obstacles which make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate in the labour market. We have already done a lot in this area.

Under the Government's mainstreaming policy, my Department through FÁS is seeking to increase the participation of disabled workers through a three-pronged approach involving:

∙facilitating progression into sustainable employment through skills development

∙stimulating awareness amongst employers of the contribution that disabled people can make and encouraging them to recruit them, and

∙providing specific employment supports for disabled people and employers.

People with disabilities now benefit from the full range of FAS training programmes and services. Since 2002 FAS has realised approximately 29,000 placements of people with disabilities in employment, training and other options and the FAS budget for vocational training and employment for people with disabilities has increased from €54 million to over €67 million. Of this €67 million, €46.8million is being used by Specialist Training Providers, over €10 million is for the new Wage Subsidy Scheme, €8 million is for the Supported Employment Programme and €2million is being used for Disability Support Awareness.

FAS also provides an extensive range of schemes and grants specifically to promote the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector. These include:

∙The Workplace or Equipment Adaptation Grant

∙The Employee Retention Grant Scheme

∙The Job Interview Interpreter Grant and

∙The Personal Reader Grant.

In 2005 I launched a new Wage Subsidy Scheme. This is a significant initiative, which has a 2006 budget of €10.25m, administered by FAS. The scheme offers financial support to employers outside the public sector to encourage them to employ disabled people who work in excess of 20 hours per week. Unlike other schemes, the potential exists for both the employee and the employer to receive an incentive.

The Sectoral Plan, which my Department is currently finalising for its area of responsibility in the context of the Disability Act, 2005 will help set the agenda for future work addressing issues for people with disabilities participating in the labour market. The Plan will provide for an overall employment strategy of engagement, in collaboration with other key Government Departments and agencies. In this way we will support people with disabilities into employment.