Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

341. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline her plans to increase employment opportunities for persons with a disability in the public and private sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5888/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government published a Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities last October. The Strategy sets out a coordinated ten-year approach with rolling three year action plans to ensure that people with disabilities, who can and want to work, are supported and assisted to do so. It involves a whole of Government approach aimed at bringing together the actions of different Departments and state agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities. The Strategy’s six strategic priorities are:

- Build skills, capacity and independence

- Provide bridges and supports into work

- Make work pay

- Promote job retention and re-entry to work

- Provide coordinated and seamless support across Government

- Engage employers

The Government has already taken a number of key decisions as recommended in the Strategy including:

- the public service employment target of people with disabilities will be increased on a phased basis as set out in the Strategy from 3% to 6% over the life time of the Strategy;

- special public service competitions for people with disabilities will be arranged and we will open up alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities;

- the establishment of a national help line and disability information service launched on 2 January last to provide expert guidance and peer support to employers in relation to the employment of staff with disabilities.

Given the complex cross-government nature of the strategy an oversight implementation group has been established under the independent chairmanship of Fergus Finlay. This group is tasked with monitoring the progress of the six strategic priorities of the strategy ensuring that each Government Department is fulfilling its obligations and meeting its targets. The group will also make periodic reports to relevant Ministers and Government updating them on progress.