AQW 10409/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/04/2024
Answered On Date: 14/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the interventions the Minister is putting in place to support people with disabilities, in particular those furthest from the labour market.

Answer:

My Department offers an extensive range of supports to those with disabilities, including across areas such as welfare, employment, housing, culture, arts and leisure, and through funding partnerships with Local Councils and the voluntary and community sector.

I am committed to delivering for disabled people throughout Northern Ireland and, as one of my key priorities, I am currently considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the development of an Executive Disability Strategy. Final decisions on the content and implementation of the Disability Strategy will be subject to Executive agreement.

In terms of employment, my Department has undertaken extensive work to co-develop a draft Disability and Work Strategy for Northern Ireland. This will include interventions to support people with disabilities and health conditions to move closer, into, sustain and progress in employment.

There are also a number of existing provisions delivering interventions to support people with disabilities and health conditions, particularly those furthest from the labour market, including JobStart Phase 2, Labour Market Partnerships, Condition Management Programme, Workable, Access to Work, Work Experience and Adviser Discretion Fund.