Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the role of her Department and associated agencies in educating and creating awareness amongst employers regarding the needs of persons with Spina Bifida and persons with Hydrocephalus [48770/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My Department has a primary role in delivering a wide range of disability-related supports, in relation to both income-support schemes and the range of employment services - provided previously by FÁS and now delivered through my Department – to support people with disabilities to avail of employment opportunities. These services are available to all persons with any form of disability. These latter services were brought together earlier this year under a new national identity - “EmployAbility Service” - which offers a range of supports to people with disabilities and also employers. These supports include, for employers, workplace adaptation grants and wage subsidies and for employees with a disability, on-site job coaches and mentors.

This service is key in supporting people with disabilities overcome the challenges of adapting to employment and being accepted in the workplace and in creating awareness among employers of the needs of employees with a disability.