Written answers

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Departmental Communications

Photo of Joe FlahertyJoe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1026. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans for his Department to develop an awareness campaign promoting the benefits of employing disabled persons to employers, the wider community and disabled persons themselves; if such a consideration has been given; and if there is an indication as to the potential cost. [32032/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Work is ongoing on planning a public awareness campaign that would set out the benefits to employers of employing people with disabilities. It has been undertaken within the framework of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES), which is a cross-government strategy to address the barriers and challenges to employment of people with disabilities.

Dormant Accounts funding was secured by the Department of Justice and Equality in 2020 to progress this action. However, it was put on hold because of the disruption to the labour market arising from COVID-19. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth secured transfer of the Dormant Accounts funding into 2021 and is considering how to advance this campaign once labour market conditions permit.

However an important and key element of the campaign was advanced in 2020 and 2021.

The Open Doors Initiative was grant funded (€150,000) to establish the Employers for Change service. This service is aimed at employers and it provides the following:

- An information and advice phone and online service for employers.

- Expert, direct advice, signposting and guidance tailored to the needs of employers on issues relating the employment of people with disabilities.

- The creation of a new engaging and fully accessible website containing relevant information and links to support employers.

- Creation of advice, resources, research, toolkits and media materials addressing specific areas of need for employers.

- Delivering and designing expert led seminars on relevant issues (assistive technology, reasonable accommodation, hiring and retention of staff etc.).

- Engaging with relevant fora and networks to promote the service.

Employers for Change was officially launched by the Taoiseach in March 2021 and has had an immediate and positive effect – engaging employers and key stakeholders both by active outreach and by responding to specific queries brought be employers. Employers for Change recently issued its mid-year report and presented its progress to the June meeting of the CES Implementation Group.

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