Written answers

Thursday, 17 November 2016

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific actions taken by her Department to support and encourage employers to develop more inclusive recruitment and workplace practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35568/16]

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific actions taken by her Department to support employers to hire people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35569/16]

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.

My Department’s mission is to encourage the creation of high quality and sustainable full employment by championing enterprise across government, supporting a competitive enterprise base, and promoting fair and competitive markets. My Department does not have a direct role in the formulation of policy on the provision of employment or other supports for people with disabilities.

My Department does however participate on the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with a Disability Implementation Group (CES) and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Group (NDIS), both of which are being led by the Department of Justice & Equality.

My Department has implemented the CES action, whereby we were requested to highlight the supports that are available to facilitate the employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market, or to retain in the workforce employees who acquire a disability. This will operate through the provision of appropriate links by the relevant Departments and agencies to the DJEI’s website.

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, which is an Office of my Department. 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.

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