Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on correspondence concerning employment opportunities for a person with a disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5038/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In dealing with jobseekers, my colleague the Minister for Social protection has the lead responsibility for providing labour market services for persons with a disability, assisting them with finding paid employment or preparing them for employment through a training or employment programme. These play an important role in supporting participation by people with disabilities in the labour force.

The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, the EmployAbility (supported employment) programme and the employment support programme. I am advised that a person with a disability is at all times free to avail of DSP’s Intreo service on a voluntary basis and can have a caseworker assist them in accessing a complete range of activation supports for people with disabilities.

Under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund, the Department of Social Protection also helps employers to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability/impairment to have access to employment by providing the grants and schemes such as the Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant, the Personal Reader Grant, the Job Interview Interpreter Grant and the Employee Retention Grant.

Significant changes to Departmental responsibility have occurred in recent years which place key activation, community employment, vocational training, placement services and other supports related to the employment of people with disabilities outside the remit of my Department.

Employment related policies and strategies, for which I have responsibility, including the Action Plan for Jobs, are designed to be all-inclusive throughout the workforce. Enterprise support provided by my Department and its agencies is available to all, including persons with disabilities.

The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 prohibit discrimination on nine grounds including the ground of disability. The Acts apply to prospective employees in claiming discrimination in access to employment. Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referring a complaint to the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission. A case may be lodged through the Workplace Relations Commission’s website at . General information relating to employment rights is available on the website and from the Workplace Relations Commission’s Information Service at Telephone: 1890 80 80 90.

In addition to these supports, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities provides for a ten year strategy to ensure that people with disabilities who are able to and want to work are supported and enabled to do so. The strategy adopts a cross-cutting approach that brings together actions by different Departments and state agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities.