EmployAbility Galway Scheme Achieves 100 Jobs Target

A number of employers across Galway City and County have created 100 jobs for people with disabilities, achieving the goal established under the EmployAbility Galway scheme.

EmployAbility Galway is one of the 23 organisations that operate the EmployAbility service throughout the State. The EmployAbility service is a national employment and recruitment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability. It is based on the ethos that participation in employment can be achieved by people with a disability when they are able to avail of individualised supports that are based on their choices and preferences.

The #100jobs campaign was launched by EmployAbility Galway in June of 2016 with the goal to commemorate the 1916 centenary, by inviting employers in Galway City and County to pledge 100 jobs for people with disabilities.

Announcing the achievement of this goal Minister of State with special responsibility for Disabilities, Finian McGrath, said: "This is an outstanding result and reflects last year's phenomenal public response to the centenary of the Easter Rising. I would like to commend all those involved in achieving the successful outcome of this initiative, which demonstrates the instrumental role that the job-coaching service provided by EmployAbility Galway plays in bridging the gap between people with disabilities and employers."

Minister McGrath added that "Bringing people with disabilities into employment has huge benefits for everyone involved. It is an opportunity to tap into the substantial talent pool available within the cohort of people with disabilities, and there are many positive effects from having a more diverse and cohesive work force.

"That we know that people with disabilities want to work is evident from a recent survey of DA recipients, which showed that of those people who are not currently working, 35% expressed an interest in working part time, while 8% expressed an interest in full time employment. Therefore we need to try harder for people with disabilities so that they can realise their employment ambitions."

The Minister added that his ambition was to improve on the range of programmes for people with disabilities by focusing on ability rather than disability.

(MH/CD)