Group attacks level of consultation on disability

A national representative group for people with disabilities has said the Government's national disability strategy is doomed for failure unless it consults with people with disabilities.

Michael Ringrose, chief executive of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI), said a report today showing that people with a disability are two and a half times more likely to be unemployed "comes as no surprise to people with disabilities".

"At present, the content of the plans is weak and insubstantial and few meaningful commitments have been put forward. There is also a lack of clarity around how services across departments are going to be co-ordinated," he said.

A report released today by the National Disability Authority found that "only a small minority of employers have employees with a disability, relatively few have made changes to the job or workplace to facilitate disabled workers and half of employers are unaware of the grants and supports available to employ disabled workers".

Young people with disabilities also have significantly lower involvement in education with one in three of those with a disability aged 15 to 19 years outside the education system.

The data within the report was based on figures obtained from the Census and the Quarterly National Household Survey.

Mr Ringrose said: "No sectoral plan exists for a department that is hugely important in terms of disability, the Department of Education and Science. "Consultation is in its infancy in this country [and] . . . the Disability Strategy will fail unless it grows up fast."

The Disability Authority also found that people with disability are more likely to work part-time and that those with sight or hearing problems have a better chance of getting employment that those with a learning disability or a severe physical disability.