COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2019

QUESTION NO. 48

QUESTION: Councillor Mary Seery-Kearney

To ask the Chief Executive if the Council have a policy for the employment of persons with disabilities, particularly those with autism and dyspraxia, and whether the Council have engaged with the Department of Social Protection Employability Service Programme and if he would like to make a statement on the matter.

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council are committed to implementing a policy of equal opportunity for disabled people and, in particular, to making sure that disabled people have access to the full range of recruitment and career development opportunities available in South Dublin County Council, and have an equal opportunity to be selected, trained and promoted within the County Council. Disabled people are entitled, as a right, to apply for any post in the local authority service for which they are qualified and to have their applications considered on the basis of their abilities, qualifications and suitability for the work in question. Furthermore, it is recognised that disabled people which, in the past, would have been regarded as unsuitable for any or most types of employment are now in a position, through personal assistance and the use of advanced technology, and other means, to overcome the restrictions resulting from their impairments and the environment in which they live and work and to engage in a far wider range of employments. This is outlined in the Council’s Policy for the Employment of Disabled People in South Dublin County Council and the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy. The Policies explain that the term disabled people should be understood to include all disabled people

To support our implementation of these policies, South Dublin County Council maintain contact with local organisations of and for disabled people (for example Employability and Menni Saint John of God  and Cheeverstown) to make sure that a high level of awareness of job opportunities is available in the local authority service. Through contacts with organisations of and for disabled people, South Dublin County Council actively encourages disabled people to consider the local authority service as a career choice. Currently we are providing three supported work placements for people with learning / intellectual disabilities in the organisation.