Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that Ireland has the largest disability employment gap in the EU; if his Department has been working on the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, as promised by the Taoiseach on 29 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30477/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The employment of people with a disability is an area that we need to improve in Ireland.

The National Disability Authority notes that, in cross-country comparisons using European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), Ireland had a disability employment gap of 37% in 2022, which is higher than the average across the European Union, which is 21%.

In terms of the development of the National Disability Strategy, my Department has participated fully in the development of the Strategy and on the Employment Pillar in particular, alongside our colleagues in the Department of Social Protection. This includes presenting on our approach to the Strategy at the recent stakeholder event on 4 June.

While my Department is not responsible for the direct support schemes, and does not have the relationship with disability stakeholders that other departments have, we are conscious of engaging with the strategy development process using our strengths, such as our relationship with employers and representative bodies and in labour market analysis.

t the end of September last year, there was a very impactful presentation at my Department’s Enterprise Forum by the Department of Social Protection, and by Employers for Change, on supports that are available for people with a disability, and also for employers.

I can assure you that we are fully focused on developing proposals that are aimed at promoting opportunities for the employment of people with a disability across the lifetime of the strategy.