Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
144. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the action his Department is taking together with the Department of Social Protection to address the barriers to participation in employment faced by disabled persons, given that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of employment among disabled people in Europe standing at 32.6% in comparison with the EU average of 51.3%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30516/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the Programme for Government 2025, Government committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of disabled people. The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was launched on 3 September 2025. Based on Census 2022, the employment participation rate of disabled people of working age in Ireland is 49%, compared to 71% for the wider working population.
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. The aim of the Forum is to provide a platform for consultation and engagement with employers on the employment of disabled people. The Forum will hear the perspectives of both disabled people and employers on best practice in seeking employment and career progression and will serve as a means of discussing how best to support employers to employ people with a disability. The Forum will engage with relevant stakeholders and Disabled Persons Organisations in pursuit of these aims.
In relation to the Department of Social Protection, key commitments that have been delivered or that are being worked on currently include:
In relation to Commitment 5.3 and 5.4 of the strategy, Budget 2026 extended the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment as well as those who have a progressive or degenerative condition that worsens, and also to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit. The change came into effect in January 2026. The rate was reviewed in the context of Budget 2026, and as a result, the bands were changed and rates increased. This change came into effect on April 6th, 2026
In relation to Commitment 6.3, there is now a Dedicated Disability Employment Personal Advisors (DDEPA) in each of the 62 Intreo offices around the country. By end of 2025, 319 employers signed up to the charter, exceeding the goal set out in the Strategy.
In relation to Commitment 6.5 on secondary benefits, Budget 2026 provided for people moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work to be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for up to five years.
The departments will work on a media campaign focused on changing attitudes and raising awareness of employment supports available for disabled people and employers.
