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'Left behind': People with disabilities four times less likely to be employed

A person with a disability is also twice as likely to leave a place of employment.

A NEW REPORT has found that people living with disabilities are four times less likely to be employed in Ireland, leading to disability activists calling for more to be done to address the problem.

A new report from the ESRI has found that despite wanting to work, people with a disability are less likely to get a job and more likely to leave employment even when their impairment does not create difficulties with everyday activities.

The study commissioned by the National Disability Authority found:

  • 31% of working-age people with a disability were at work compared to 71% of those without a disability.
  • Most people with a disability had worked at some stage but it was often more than four years ago.
  • Across the period, people with a disability were more likely to exit than enter employment. For those without a disability, the rate of job entry picked up in the recovery period and the rate of exit dropped. However, there was little sign of a recovery for people with a disability by 2015.

Development manager of the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) Joan O’Donnell said that the report is yet again more evidence that not enough is being done to help those with disabilities enter and, more importantly, remain in employment.

“People with disabilities were forgotten about during the recession and they’re being forgotten about now. There needs to be an attitude change in Ireland. There are so many options for employers which are not being utilised. There are grants which they can avail of. But sometimes there is fear on their part, fear of saying the wrong thing and other things along the same lines.

“Four out of five of us will acquire a disability during our working lives. This isn’t something which can be kicked down the road. We need action and we need it now.”

According to the report, if education, age, gender, marital status and other personal and family characteristics are taken out, people with a disability remain about half as likely to enter employment.

The report added that areas of specific importance to people with a disability include the retention of medical cards when they move into employment, support for the additional costs of disability itself and flexibility in how jobs are structured including in hours and job tasks.

Dorothy Watson, an author of the report, added: “Efforts to ensure jobs for all of those with a disability who want to work need to proceed on two fronts: both increasing the capacity of those not at work to get jobs and ensuring that those currently at work can retain their jobs.”

Read: This is the number of ‘current smokers’ in Ireland today >

Read: Investigation launched after 10-week-old baby critically injured in Louth home >

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    Mute Daniel Dunne
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:04 AM

    Impressive!

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    Mute HULK SMASH!
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:09 AM

    Thanks

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    Mute Steve M
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:31 AM

    Anyone ever read the book empire of the sun? I always think of it when I hear of Shanghai

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 1st 2015, 4:17 PM

    It’s a shame Dublin is so scared of building up, such a waste of space above.

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    Mute Charlie Mountney
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    Jan 1st 2015, 4:28 PM

    Yeah. Dublin needs more empty office blocks.

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 1st 2015, 4:39 PM

    Dublin has a shortage of office blocks. Highrise doesn’t only mean office space silly.

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 1st 2015, 5:08 PM

    I disagree, Dublin may be old but nothing wrong with blending new with old. The city of London is a good example of this. The shard is a lovely building. The area around the shard was rundown and neglected for years. Looks a lot better today. Highrise large apartment blocks is just what Dublin needs to stop the urban sprawl.

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 1st 2015, 5:17 PM

    Shanghai is a city since 1291.

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    Mute jack the stroller
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:32 AM

    Comming soon to a village like athlone soon

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    Mute Con Manne
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:15 AM

    Way two soon

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    Mute Steve M
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    Jan 1st 2015, 10:30 AM

    Cool

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    Mute Michael Cunningham
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:18 AM

    Yep. Great bunch of lads.

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    Mute Noranne Stack
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:30 AM

    Ironic to see this article in light of the tragedy that occurred there on New Years Eve

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    Mute Tony_Kilduff
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:38 AM

    Yes. Bad timing alright.

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    Mute Jim McGourty
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    Jan 1st 2015, 11:43 AM

    You guys play fast and loose with the word ‘stunning’.

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