Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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362. To ask the Minister for Health if it is a requirement that a person with a disability such as Down syndrome would be required to have been signed off by their service provider before being employed by a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19979/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Issues concerning the terms and conditions of employment operated by a local authority are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. However I am not aware of any reason why an individual would require to be signed off by a disability service provider before taking up employment.

Many individuals with intellectual, physical or mental health disabilities gain full-time or part-time employment in the open labour market but may still receive health-funded supports on an intermittent or continuing basis, depending on their individual needs and abilities. The HSE and the voluntary disability agencies recognise the importance of employment to people with disabilities and are committed to supporting the participation of people with disabilities in the social and economic lives of their communities.

One of the key actions in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan, which I published last year, is the development of a cross-sectoral employment strategy for people with disabilities. Accordingly, the National Disability Authority has recently completed a draft ten-year Comprehensive Employment Strategy at my request. The draft Strategy, which is currently with the Disability Stakeholder Group for consideration, is due to be published at the end of this year as set out in the national Action Plan for Jobs 2014.