Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 61: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress he has made in increasing the level of workers with disabilities in the labour force. [31650/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At this stage it is difficult to arrive at any definite conclusions about the current numbers of people with disabilities who are in the labour force.

The results for the 2006 Census, and the associated national disability survey, will, when published, provide definitive information of the level of progress that is being achieved in increasing the numbers of disabled workers who are now actually engaged in the labour market.

Data from the 2002 Census showed there were about 43,000 people with disabilities of working age who were in employment, and approximately 130,000 who were unemployed and economically inactive.

More recent data published by the CSO in two QNHS special disability surveys (which are not directly comparable with the 2002 Census) indicate that between 2002 and 2004 the numbers of people in employment remained broadly the same at about 110, 000, while the numbers who were unemployed and economically inactive rose from 165, 000 to about 190, 000.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities and furthering the policy of mainstreaming services to help them play a full and active part in Irish society. The Sectoral Plan of the Department under the Disability Act, 2005 outlines its key initiatives in promoting equality of opportunity for disabled people on the open labour market, including through its Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities.

This Strategy proposes to further enhance the effectiveness of employment and vocational training programmes for disabled people and to further develop supports to open labour market employment for them.

The Sectoral Plan represents a clear step forward in working to improve access to employment for disabled people, and a comprehensive outline of this Department's commitment in that regard.