Disability
Congress and Disability issues
Minister Kathleen Lynch at launch of revised code of practice for trade unions on disability issues (John Chaney)Congress (12th October 2011) launches revised code of practice for trade unions on disability to include specific reference to issue of mental health.
Issuu book version available here
Congress Disability Seminar 2011
Delegates at Seminar April 2011 (Pic John Chaney)Congress annual disability seminar was held on 1st and 2nd Apri in Dublin Airport. 40 delegates 
CPSU delegate, Joe Roe at disability seminar April 2011 (Pic John Chaney)gathered to discuss the impact of the crisis on people with disabilities and how the trade union movement should respond. Among the speakers were:
Deirdre O Connor opened the seminar with some remarks about a recent European civil society conference on disability issues.
David Begg spoke about the seriousness of the economic crisis facing us and on the importance of ensuring that we do not lose focus on the fact that the economy should exist for society and not the obverse;
Eithne Fitzgerald of the NDA spoke about opportunities posed by the crisis in terms of how we approach disability issues in Ireland - more here;
Christy Lynch, CEO of KARE spoke about the challenges to his organisation in terms of providing relevant services for people with intellectual disabilities in such a difficult economic climate;
Paul Oakes of the Equality Commission spoke about the importance of mainstreaming equality and disability issues; Deirdre McNamee from the Public Health Agency (N.Irl) presented on the development of the Promoting Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan.
John Saunders from See Change also spoke about the impact of the crisis on mental health and on their latest Campaign - Make a Ripple - see more here.
INTO delegate and Disability Committee member, Maire Masterson, finished the seminar with a session giving stress management techniques to all.
Participants also worked in breakout sessions and brought back some recommendations for the consideration of the Disability Committees North and South.
Disability Champions Graduates April 2011 with Peter McKevitt, Chairperson NDA (Pic John Chaney)Peter McKevitt, Chairperson of the NDA also attended and presented certificates to Disability Champions Graduates. There are now over 140 champions trained on the island. Congress appreciates the continued support of FAS for our work on disability champions.
Congress Disability Seminar 2010
The Congress Disability Seminar was held on the 23rd and 24th of April, in the Clarion Hotel Dublin Airport. The theme for the seminar was: ' Mental Health in the Workplace'. The seminar was attended by members of the disability committees from ICTU and NIC ICTU, Disability Champions, and lay activists.
David Begg speaking at the Seminar
The event was jointly chaired by Deirdre O'Connor and Berni McCrea. The Seminar was opened by Colm O Gorman, CEO of Amnesty International, and this was followed by a speech by Congress general Secretary David Begg. There were also presentations from Mary Van Leishout of the NDA on attitudes to mental health, Peter Purton from the TUC and Seamus Mac Alastiar from Spes. 
Deirdre O Connor, INTOOn the 24th, there was presentations from Jane Clare, Disability Champions Officer and Paul Oakes, Equality Commission. The seminar was finished off by a workshop on developing a work plan on the area of mental health. 
Beni McCrea, UNITEThe aim of the seminar was to raise awareness aabout mental health and illness issues in the workplace, and to start thinking about future campaigns in the area.
Congress has also now joined the See Change - the National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partnership. The partnership is working positively to change attitudes and behaviour so that there is a reduction of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems and to ensure that everyone enjoys the same rights on an equal basis.
Congress is developing a code of practice in relation to mental health issues in the workplace. Click here to read the TUC's guidance for trade union reps on mental health issues.
Congress Disability Seminar, Belfast 2009.
Pauline Buchanan, John Corey, David Joyce, Renee Dempsey and Brian McKeeOver 60 trade unioists from across the whole island of Ireland gathered in Belfast (1/2 October 2009) to celebrate the work of the now 100 Disability Champions on the island. The graduation ceremony was presided over by Patricia McKeown (Past President of ICTU) and 14 of the latest champions graduated.
Renee Dempsey (Equality Authority CEO) and Michelle Morris (Equality Commission)The seminar, funded by the Equality Commission, Concensus and Fas was opened by John Corey, followed by a drama piece by members of the Disability Committee. Pauline Buchanan welcomed delegates to Belfast and the seminar introduced by Berni McCrea and Deirdre O'Connor, joint Chairs of the Congress Disability Committee. There followed presentations by:
- Michelle Morris, the Equality Commission, N.Irl;Powerpoint available here
- Renee Dempsey, CEO of the Equality Authority;
- Brian McKee, Barrister, - recent developments in disability legislation
- Creative Exchange Arts Project
- Jane Clare, Congress Disability Champions Officer
- FAS presentation on supports available
- Donal Lyons from the Human Rights Consortium
Trade Union drama group at disability seminar 
Jane Clare, Patricia McKeown, David Joyce, Pauline Buchanan and Brian McKee
Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005
The review of the Sectoral plan is now available on the DETE website
Congress has written (July 09) to the DETE to seek the elaboration of the promised comprehensive employment strategy for people with disability in their sectoral plan review under the Disability Act 2005. Read submission
Congress 2006 submission in advance of the publication of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment's Sectoral Plan under the National Disability Strategy.
Code of practice for trade unions
Inquriy into Sheltered Workshops?
Congress has written to the Equality Authority seeking an inquiry into possible discrimination against people in sheltered workshops
Congress Disability Champions
New Publication: Disability Champions at Work
Congress Disability Report 2001 - 2005: This report is an update on Congress activities in relation to people with disabilities from 2001 to 2005.
Workway a joint IBEC and ICTU initiative to promote the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector.
The Congress Disability Committees (NI & ROI).
National Disability Survey 2006 - Volume 2
This report (published by the CSO 28 Jan 2010), presents the detailed analyses of the situation of people with a disability in Ireland in the following nine areas: Caring and help from other persons; Attitudes of other people; Transport; Built environment accessibility; Education; Work and training; Social participation; Sport and exercise; and some general issues such as use of medication, health and smoking.Key findings from the report include:
-Around 56% of persons with a disability in private households received help with their everyday activities. The most common source of help was from family members who lived with the person - 42% of persons in private households who had a disability received such help.
--Difficulty getting on and off public transport vehicles was given by 16% of persons aged 5 & over in private households as a reason for not using or having difficulty using public transport. Difficulty transferring from one service to another was the next most cited reason (12%), while difficulty getting to the public transport was reported by 9%.
-Around one third (32%) of respondents aged 5 & over whose disability limited or affected them before they completed their full-time education indicated that they had stopped their education sooner than they intended because of their disability.
Rights and entitlements of people with disabilities
The Citizens Information Board have published seven disability factsheets providing a quick overview of public services and supports for people with disabilities in a number of areas; including social welfare and HSE payments, health services, training and employment supports and income tax.
There is also an updated wallchart for 2011
Towards 2016 and Disability
Towards 2016 Strategic Document on the National Disability Strategy was noted by Government in their meeting of 19 May 2009. The Strategic Document has since been published to the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform website .
The National Disability Authority
The National Disability Authority (NDA) (Wednesday 10 March 2010) launched its Strategic Plan for the period 2010 to 2012. The primary context for NDA's Strategic Plan is the continued implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The principle of including people with disabilities in the mainstream of Irish society, and ending the provision of segregated services, is at the core of this Strategy. Each and every government department and public body has the responsibility of including people with disabilities in its mainstream services and remit. Gerry O'Hanlon, Director General CSO, gave a Keynote Speech at the launch, highlighting main findings of the National Disability Survey which included: Disability rates from Census and NDS; NDS findings on types of disability; and NDS findings on participation
The NDA is The National Disability Authority is the lead state agency on disability issues, providing independent expert advice to Government on policy and practice. Among the areas they work is the area of employment and training of people with disabilities.
Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 ("the Act") sets out the obligations on public service bodies with regard to the employment of people with disabilities.
There are three interlinked requirements. Firstly, public bodies must, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment by them of people with disabilities. Secondly, public bodies shall ensure, unless there are good reasons to the contrary for not doing so, that at least 3% of their employees are people with disabilities. Finally, on an annual basis, public bodies must report to a statutory monitoring committee in their parent Department on the number of people with disabilities in their employment and the measures they are taking to support their employment. The monitoring committees in turn submit their reports on such compliance to the Minister of their parent Department and the National Disability Authority (NDA).
The headline results from 2008 report are:
55% of the organisations reported achieving or exceeding the statutory 3% employment target for 2008. In 2007, 51% of public bodies reported reaching or surpassing the statutory minimum target.
The total number of public service employees who declared a disability for 2008 totalled 6,083, an increase of 204 over the 2007 figure. At the same time, the number of employees in the public bodies reporting under the Act fell from 239,000 to just below 229,000 between the two years.
For the first time since the 3% target came into being on a statutory basis (31 December 2005) all 15 Government Departments have achieved or exceeded the target. Totalling the figures for all Government Departments, 3.9% of staff reported a disability for 2008 compared to 3.8% in 2007.
Local authorities have 3.5% of staff with disabilities.
There is a strong link between positive action measures, such as a disability policy or a Code of Practice, to support employment of people with disabilities and achievement of the 3% target.
Commission of the Status of People with Disabilities
Althought it was published in the 1990's, it is worth reminding ourselves of the recommendations of the Commission of the Status of People with Disabilities
Fas
The Disability section of Fas' website contains information relating to training and employment for people with disabilities.
Fas booklet on Supports for people with disabilities and for employers
NUIG Centre for Disability Law and Policy
The Centre for Disability Law & Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The Centre was formally established in 2008 and is dedicated to produce research that informs debate on national and international disability law reform.