Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding employment opportunities for people with a physical disability. [16870/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Consistent with best practice internationally, labour market services for people with disabilities that are administered by FÁS on behalf of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, are mainstreamed.

The objective of the Government's mainstreaming policy is the systematic integration of people with disabilities into the open labour market. FÁS seeks to create the conditions whereby people with disabilities can operate and compete in the labour market on the same basis as their non-disabled peers.

All people with disabilities wishing to avail of work opportunities in the open labour market may call into their local FÁS Employment Service Office to meet with an Employment Services Officer who will provide them with full information, advice and guidance in relation to training and employment. The Employment Services Office is the access point to all FÁS training and employment services for job seekers.

To enhance employment opportunities for this cohort of its customers, every person with a disability registering with FÁS is case-loaded. This allows for the person to be assisted by a named Employment Services Officer to facilitate access and progression. Caseloading will also allow the person to access a series of employment supports that FÁS has in place specifically for people with disabilities.

All vacancies advertised by FÁS are open to people with disabilities to apply for, and they are encouraged to do so. Job-seekers with a disability who are finding it difficult to secure a job are encouraged to avail of the Supported Employment Programme.

FÁS provide a range of grants and schemes to enhance the employment opportunities of people with disabilities, namely:

Wage Subsidy Scheme — this scheme provides financial incentives to employers outside the public sector, to employ people with disabilities who work more than 20 hours per week, up to a maximum of 39 hours.

Supported Employment Programme — this is an open labour market initiative that works towards the placement, and support of people with different types and varying degrees of disability who need the initial support of a Job Coach to obtain, or maintain employment.

Employee Retention Grant Scheme — this scheme is available to private sector employers when an employee develops a disability whether occupational or not. It provides funding to identify accommodation or training to enable the employees to remain in their current position, or to re-train them to take up another position within the organisation.

Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme — grants under this scheme are available for employers to cover the cost of disability awareness training for their organisation's staff and personnel.

Personal Reader Grant — this grant is available to people who are blind or visually impaired and who may need assistance with job related reading.

Job Interview Interpreter Grant — this grant is available to people with a hearing or speech impairment attending job interviews.

Work Equipment/Adaptation Grant — this grant is available for employers who have to adapt their workplace or equipment for an employee with a disability.

People with disabilities may also avail of the Community Employment Programme (CE). CE is an employment and training programme to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine.