Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am very aware that more needs to be done to drive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The issue of employment supports for people with disabilities has been the dedicated focus of work within my department, and at a whole of government level, for some time.

It was for this reason that government doubled the minimum percentage target for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector from 3% to 6%, on a phased basis up to 2025. The public sector must show leadership on this issue. This measure entered into law in April this year with the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act. Both myself and Minister Rabbitte will be working with colleagues across government to ensure that every effort is made to meet the new targets, and Minister Rabbitte will be writing to our ministerial colleagues so that their departments and their aegis bodies are aware of the need to meet the new legislative obligations.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. My Department coordinates action on this strategy and it has provided the framework for several significant successes in recent years, such as allowing for the deferral of day service placements for those who wish to seek employment opportunities or pursue further and higher education without automatically losing their services place.

Also under the CES, my Department provides funding for the Towards Work and Employers for Change initiatives. These measures respectively provide supports and advice for job seekers with disabilities, and confidential advice and support for employers in becoming "disability confident".

The Department of Social protection also provides a wide range of supports and incentives for all job seekers, including specific supports for persons with disabilities. In addition, supports such as the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Workplace Adaptation Grant are also available to financially assist those who may need reasonable accommodations or adaptations to enter into or to retain employment.

My Department is in the process of designing the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. This will provide an opportunity to engage colleagues at a whole of government level, along with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, on the key barriers and challenges facing persons with disabilities. The issue of employment will be closely examined and considered in the context of that strategy's development with a view to driving further ambitious progress.