Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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414. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are working towards enabling access to employment for persons from minority and or disadvantaged communities, including, but not limited to persons with disabilities, persons from ethnic minorities, Travellers, Mincéirí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32733/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees and the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy, which was launched in 2018 builds on the Department's core values in the areas of equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Department is a long time supporter of providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and has participated for many years in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme. This programme provides a six month paid and mentored work placement for graduates with a disability. In the last few years, the Department has increased the number of placements it has made available under the WAM programme. Many former participants of the programme have gone on to secure permanent employment in the Civil Service.

The Department has participated in the Job Shadow Initiative on a continuous basis since 2009. Job Shadow Day is a national project, bringing people with disabilities and local employers together for one day to promote equal employment opportunities.

Following the launch of the Oireachtas Work Learning programme (OWL) by the Ceann Comhairle in September 2018, the Department has collaborated with the Houses of the Oireachtas to provide learning opportunities for trainees on this programme. The OWL programme is a learning, development and socialisation programme for young adults with an intellectual disability. The programme aims to provide a real and applied learning experience to the participants in a safe and secure work environment, to support them in developing the skills which will lead them to access paid employment in the open labour market.

The Department will continue to explore further options to provide employment opportunities for persons from minority and disadvantaged communities.

The question of enabling access to employment for persons from minority and/or disadvantaged communities in the State Agencies under the aegis of the Department is an operational matter for the Agencies themselves and I will ask the Agencies to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.