Employment

Suggestions around employment-related issues, including those relating to the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015 - 2024), were provided in twelve submissions (NDA; NFVSP; Leap; ICTU; Ibec; CIB; Pobal; TEJP; Chime; Public member 7; IWA; and the IDS).

According to the DFI, the DCEDIY “must play a pro-active role” in advocating for “social protection and employment supports for people with disabilities”, which includes “supporting DEASP to work to decrease the poverty and social exclusion”. The NDA recommended that the Department support persons with disabilities to “enter and to remain in employment” through implementation of the Second Action Plan of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES). The NDA noted that the DCEDIY will assume responsibility for coordinating the CES, as well the actions it leads on in the new 3-year action plan, which include: the implementation of the Employer Disability Initiative and an awareness and support programme for employers. These actions were also referenced by ICTU. ICTU also recommended that concerns raised by employers, “in their discussions with the Employers Disability Information Service”, need to be addressed. ICTU recommended a “full update on the status of the recommendations of the Make Work Pay report” and noted that “the NDA will develop guidance for employers on the reasonable accommodations process, informed by their 2019 research work” and look forward to publication of same.

The NFVSP argued that policy relating to the employment of people with disabilities lacks clarity in terms Departmental responsibilities, which “is adversely affecting the supports available to people with intellectual disabilities”. They called for urgent cross-Departmental working to address these issues, recommending the implementation in full of the CES, which they argue will “address the lack of joined up and seamless supports currently presenting barriers” to employment. Specifically, they recommend that the SoS include a commitment for the DCEDIY to work:

alongside the Departments of Business Enterprise and Innovation; Social Protection; Health; and Justice and Equality to provide clarity on the provision and responsibility for employment support.

The NFVSP referred to existing programmes such as the Ability Programme projects (due to finish in July 2021) and suggested “confirmation on the continued support to programmes such as these”. The submission also suggested that social enterprise provides “is a significant opportunity for people with disabilities to gain valued employment”.

In terms of the DCEDIY employment record, the NDA welcomed the Department’s “employment of people with disabilities, which exceeded the 3% target in 2017 and 2018” and noted that an action in the CES “will raise the 3% target to 6% in the coming years”. The need for the Department to consider this new target was echoed by ICTU.