Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the urgent steps being taken to address the disproportionate disability employment gap in Ireland as compared with all EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43212/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Government acknowledges that the employment gap for disabled people in Ireland is stubbornly and unacceptably high. Government policy is to continually increase the number of people with disabilities in employment and while there is more to be done, progress has been made to ensure that disabled people are supported to pursue meaningful careers in their chosen fields.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2015-2024) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland, and has provided a whole of government framework to address barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities. Under the CES, a commitment was enshrined in legislation to increase the proportion of disabled persons employed in the public sector from 3% to 6% by 2025, thereby increasing opportunities for disabled people to participate and thrive in public service.

Alongside legislative commitments, efforts to support disabled people to access employment are being actioned in initiatives across government, reflecting the fact that this issue can only be comprehensively addressed with coordinated and ambitious action across departments and public bodies, and in partnership with employers.

The Department of Social Protection's EmployAbility service delivers employment supports for both employers and employees, including grants, advice and information, as well as a professional job-matching service to help ensure successful recruitment. Meanwhile, the Workability programme funds local, regional and national projects that provide progressive pathways into employment (including self-employment). The programme has an overall budget of over €36million and aims to support over 13,000 disabled people progress their training and employment ambitions over its lifetime and will be delivered by 56 local and community organisations nationwide.

Other initiatives include the Work and Access Scheme, launched by my colleague Minister Humphreys in July 2024. Replacing the Reasonable Accommodations Fund, this is a new Employment Programme aimed at removing barriers that disabled people may face in the workplace. It offers a range of supports including workplace needs assessments and adaptations, in-work support, equipment and disability training.

Within my own Department funding is provided for the Employers for Change programme, which seeks to provide employers with all the information and advice needed to hire, employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities. Funding is also provided for the Towards Work programme which seeks to provide pre-activation supports for disabled people.

Finally, my Department is leading across government on the development of a new National Disability Strategy. This will be an ambitious Strategy, seeking to take transformative action across a range of areas to ensure that disabled people are empowered to live full lives of their own choosing and to avail of opportunities to excel. Employment will be a cornerstone of this new Strategy and will include actions aimed at enhancing employment opportunities and supports for disabled people.