Many disabled people available to meet job vacancies - Harney

Tánaiste Mary Harney today (Monday 17th May, 1999) addressed the A.G.M. of KARE and presented certificates to more than 50 participants who have completed their training.

KARE is a parents and friends organisation which provides a comprehensive range of services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Co. Kildare, East Offaly and West Wicklow.

Speaking at the presentation the Tánaiste said "training, both as a means of personal development and as a pathway to employment, is absolutely essential. These certificates that you now hold provide a formal recognition of your achievements and will provide a platform for you to progress to higher levels of training, education and access to work opportunities."

"I firmly believe that people with disabilities have a significant contribution to make to the economy. Employers need to be aware that there are many disabled people who are available to meet the labour shortages in many sectors. I am not advocating that companies employ people with disabilities as a token. On the contrary, they should consider employing disabled people for the valuable contribution they can make to the firm. As is the case with any able-bodied person, it is a matter of matching the person's skills to the right job. Grants are available from the National Rehabilitation Board to employers who may need to make adaptations to the workplace to accommodate people with disabilities," the Tánaiste said.

"I know that KARE is to the forefront in working with employers to place people with disabilities into jobs which match their skills. I want to compliment KARE on its work in this regard and on its success in moving people out of workshops and into employment," the Tánaiste commented.

The Tánaiste said that it was necessary to find more flexible ways of bringing people with disabilities into the open labour market, "KARE's experience demonstrates that it can be done."

Later this year, responsibility for certain aspects of training and employment of people with disabilities will transfer to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment from the Department of Health & Children. The overall objective of the re-structuring is to integrate services for people with disabilities more fully with the State's general, mainstream training services.

"I want to end by wishing you a successful Annual General Meeting. I encourage you to continue your good work and together we can make real improvements in the employment opportunities for people with disabilities," the Tánaiste concluded.