Speeches
Wednesday 5 October 2005
Mr. Noel Ahern T.D. Minister of State at the Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs at the launch of the Irish Association of Supported Employment’s Five Year Strategic Plan, in the Mansion House, Dublin.
"I am delighted to be here to launch this Five Year Strategic Plan and I would like to thank your Chairman Dermot Cunningham and the executive of the Irish Association of Supported Employment for their kind invitation to be here with you this morning.
This is an ambitious and thought provoking plan. Through consulting with their members and conducting a thorough evaluation of their past record in supported employment, the IASE has produced a strategic plan, which not only identifies the priorities for the organisation over the next five years, but also can be used as a tool by all organisations working in the supported employment sector to influence national policy and work together in a more cohesive manner.
The Plan underlines the importance of raising awareness outside of the sector, of the real contribution people with disabilities can make to the economy. The advantages of supported employment are further cemented by the findings of research conducted by the IASE that levels of poverty and isolation among people with disabilities is significantly reduced through supported employment initiatives.
The work done by organisations such as the IASE often goes unnoticed by sections of the media. However, the document we are launching today will contribute greatly to building a national profile for the work and achievements of the supported employment sector, and a greater understanding of the issues involved.
The Plan also identifies ways of promoting cohesion between all organisations, both voluntary and statutory, that are concerned with the development of the employment potential of people with disabilities. This is an ambitious objective that the IASE have prioritised for attention, an approach that I fully support.
In June 2000 as part of the Government’s policy of mainstreaming services to people with disabilities, responsibility for vocational training and employment for people with disabilities in the open labour market transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This underlines the Government’ s commitment to encouraging the progression of people with disabilities into the open labour market.
All organisations seek to influence policy direction for the people they represent. IASE are no different in that respect and their document recognises this reality. The plan clearly identifies five policy priorities for the organisation that will best advance the aims of IASE over the next five years. This strategic approach will provide a focused approach for the IASE’s long-term development.
The ultimate goal for people with disabilities in relation to employment is to secure work in the open labour market at fair market rates. Many, particularly those with significant disabilities, have tended to be excluded from the open labour market. Supported Employment enables people with disabilities to access real employment opportunities, of their choice, in an integrated setting with appropriate ongoing support being provided to enable them to become economically and socially active in their communities.
It is vitally important that there is buy-in by employers to this process. I understand that the first Supported Employment Programme was introduced as recently as in the late 1980’s when St. Michael’s House set up the ‘Open Road’ project.
This project provided job coaches for adults with intellectual disability to support them in finding ordinary jobs and learning the skills required for the job. This successful project became the inspiration to other services and agencies and within a few years supported employment programmes were being delivered throughout the country.
Since its establishment in 1994 the IASE has played a pivotal role in developing the need for supported employment. Since that time they have been working with employers, and others who could help their cause, to improve conditions for people in supported employment.
The government recognises the work done by IASE over the years on behalf of its members. I know that IASE have been relentless in pursuit of their agenda of supporting employers to increase the number of people with disabilities who can work. Through IASE, employers have access to a committed labour pool and both employee and employers retain on going support from the IASE through a range of services including Job Coaches. My Department is committed to providing core funding to the IASE over the three-year period to the end of 2006.
I am pleased that this core funding has enabled IASE to employ Sarah Togher as a Development Officer. I understand that Sarah’s work has been pivotal in producing this excellent document. In her capacity as the Development Officer, Sarah has given invaluable support to the local IASE Networks and greatly facilitated the exchange of information between interested parties in the sector.
Of course organisations like IASE would not exist at all without the huge commitment of a dedicated cadre of volunteers who are motivated to support others.
I am concerned that volunteering activity be maintained and localised in a modern world where concern for our neighbour is apparently falling. In response to this concern, this year I introduced a €2 million package designed to underpin, strengthen and foster volunteerism in Ireland. The package is supporting structures and initiatives that will develop volunteering locally from the bottom up, and will promote volunteering among our young people. This package is a first step by me in providing the structures and resources to ensure volunteering flourishes for the generations to come and that we maintain our supply of volunteers to voluntary organisations across the State, such as IASE.
The IASE’s success illustrates how a voluntary organisation can pursue its aims successfully at a national level.
I wish to congratulate all the members of the IASE in their efforts to advance the objectives of the IASE since 1994 and I have no doubt they will realise the strategic objectives detailed in this plan.
Finally it gives me great pleasure to launch this 5-year Strategic Plan".