Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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300. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he has implemented the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; the resources he has allocated to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17008/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities (CES) sets out the Government’s commitment to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability.

The strategy reflects a cross-government approach that brings together various measures and actions to be taken by different Departments and state agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on the employment of people with disabilities. The overall CES is being coordinated by the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform (DJELR).

The aim of the strategy is to increase the proportion of people with disabilities in a job. The measures contained in the strategy seek to address the barriers to employment and improve pathways to work, with the impact on employment building up over time.

The specific DSP commitments in the CES include: enhanced engagement with people with disabilities (drawing on profiling analysis etc.); provision of employment support services (Wage Subsidy Scheme, EmployAbility service etc.); engagement with employers to highlight benefits of employing people with disabilities; early intervention strategies to address drift into ill-health; the establishment of an interdepartmental group, to be led by DSP, under an independent chair, to review and make recommendations on 'making work pay' for people with disabilities.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is making progress in delivering on its commitments under the CES, for example, my Department is progressively rolling out its full Intreo service to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service on a voluntary basis. People with disabilities who present at INTREO Centres offices will be offered an interview by a case officer who will agree suitable personal progression plan with the individual and record the action plan for the person on the case management system. In addition, relevant officers in INTREO Centres have received training, to enable them to interact effectively with people with disabilities.

This service is being provided across 58 Intreo Centres. Training of over 60 Employment Support officers and other INTREO support staff was completed in March 2016. Training included inputs from the National Disability Authority and Epilepsy Ireland.

Other actions completed include, the review, by Indecon, of the EmployAbility and DACT services. A survey, conducted by my Department, of a random sample 12,000 people in receipt of disability allowance. The survey is to inform the design of supports and interventions which will assist people with disabilities in receipt of Disability Allowance to participate in the labour force according to their capacity.

In addition my Department has established an interdepartmental expert group, with an independent chair to examine the complex interaction between the benefits system, including the medical card, and the net income gains in employment. The interdepartmental group will also identify any significant disincentives for people with disabilities in taking up or returning to work. The interdepartmental group will report to Government by the end 2016.

Finally, my Department promotes workplace supports for people with disabilities and engages with employers on an ongoing basis. The Employer Information Pack contains information on supports available to people with disabilities and employers and the range of supports and services available to employers are highlighted at DSP employer road shows and Job fairs.

I hope this gives the Deputy an indication of the progress being made by my Department in meeting its CES commitments.