Employers urged to avail of supports to increase participation of people with disabilities

Minister Kelleher presents Certificates of Competency to Supported Employment Coaches

Minister Billy Kelleher today (Monday 21^st January 2008) presented Certificates to 50 FÁS Supported Employment Programme Job Coaches who have completed their competency training.

The Supported Employment Programme aims to assist people with a disability to find a job, leading to independence and career progression.

Speaking at the presentation in Cork Minister Kelleher said: “Despite the phenomenal growth in employment over the last decade, workers with a disability have benefited from this only to a limited extent. The 2002 Census data showed that there were about 130,000 people with a disability of working age not in employment. FÁS has responded to the challenge posed by these statistics through direct services and employment support grant assistance.

“We in Government are committed to do everything possible to ensure that disabled people have the same right of access to employment as the rest of our citizens. The Sectoral Plan for my Department under the Disability Act, 2005, outlines some key initiatives in promoting equal opportunities for disabled people in the labour market. These include the development of a Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities.

“There is every incentive for employers in the private sector to recruit suitably qualified jobseekers with a disability. This is a group of potential employees that is not being sufficiently tapped into. I would strongly urge employers to avail of the numerous supports, such as the wage subsidy scheme, to increase the participation of people with disabilities into their workplaces.

“I congratulate all of those who have received certificates today and acknowledge the important role that Job Coaches in supporting people with a disability to access employment opportunities - thereby enabling them to participate fully in social, civil and economic life”, Minister Kelleher concluded.

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