Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
200. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures he is taking to increase the number of people with disabilities in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29503/26]
View answerThe National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was launched on 3 September 2025. My Department along, with the Department of Social Protection co-leads the Employment pillar of the Strategy. The ambition of the Employment Pillar is to bridge the employment gap between disabled people and others who are in employment and to enhance the opportunities for disabled people who can earn a living, to do so.
My Department’s priority commitment has been to establish a Forum on the Employment of Disabled People, which had its first meeting on 26 February 2026. Its aim is to provide a platform for consultation and engagement with employers on disability employment. This Forum will serve as a means of discussing how best to support employers to employ people with a disability. The Forum engages with relevant stakeholders and Disabled Persons Organisations in pursuit of these aims.
Membership of the Forum includes representatives nominated by members of my Department’s Enterprise Forum, and meetings will also include officials from Departments, agencies, disability organisations, and others, that are relevant to the employment of people with a disability.
As an overarching objective, the Forum will raise awareness of the potential of disabled employees and act as an information exchange and a platform to showcase best practices by businesses to advance the employment of people with disabilities. The Forum will hear the perspectives of both disabled people and employers on best practice in seeking employment and career progression. It will provide a vehicle for sharing relevant information on government policies and programmes which can be further disseminated by members to their individual stakeholders.
