Waterford Council pass motion to boost disability employment opportunities
In Ireland, the public sector statutory employment target for people with disabilities is 6%.
Waterford City and County Council have passed a motion that commits to offering people with disabilities increased opportunities within the local authority.
The motion, which was introduced in the name of Cllr Joe Kelly (Ind) and seconded by Cllr Donal Barry (Ind), asks that Waterford Council acknowledges that people with disabilities remain significantly under-represented in public sector employment, including within local authorities.
In Ireland, the public sector statutory employment target for people with disabilities is 6%. The motion introduced last week suggested that this 6% disability employment figure should be regarded as a baseline rather than a ceiling, and that maintaining this level until 2030 lacks ambition.
The motion called on the Council to commit to adopting aspirational local authority targets of 8% employment by 2027 and 10% employment by 2023. Cllr Jelly and Barry also called on Council Chief Executive, Sean McKeown, to develop and publish a Disability Employment Implementation Plan for the Council.
The motion was passed unanimously.
