Waterford Leader Partnership

Waterford Leader Partnership Ltd. Strategy on Engaging People with Disability for Employment

Mr John Moloney, TD, Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health launched the Waterford Leader Partnership (WLP) Ltd. Disability Strategy in the Park Hotel Dungarvan recently before a large attendance.

The aim of the strategy is to engage people with disability and help them progress to employment, if they so desire.

Councillor Micéal Cosgrove, Mayor of Dungarvan welcomed the Minister to Dungarvan and stressed the need for continued support for people with disability.

Mr Oliver Clancy, Chairperson of WLP’s Social Inclusion Committee then spoke about the purpose of the strategy and how the agencies including DSFA, FAS, VEC, CIC, PWDI, WESA and private companies (SOUL Ltd and DFBA Dunhill), had worked together to achieve a viable plan to help and support people with disability in County Waterford to reach their employment potential and have a better quality of life. Mr Clancy also stated that FAS would seriously consider implementing a pilot scheme soon, based on the disability strategy, in Co. Waterford.

Minister Moloney, TD, thanked WLP Ltd. for inviting him to Dungarvan, before giving an overview of the needs of people with disability, and the barriers they face, when seeking employment. He added that he was delighted to see that the agencies were working very well together in Waterford. He then stated that there will be considerable cuts to services but that the area of disability will need to be one of the last ones to be targeted. He insisted that cutting the Personal Assistance Allowance would be a false economy and that this would be negotiated, despite the recommendations made by An Bord Snip Nua (McCarthy Report). The Minister then stated that a dedicated Mental Health Director would be appointed to ensure that the mental health vision and issues for change would continue.  Finally, the Minister added that one of his personal priorities’ is to increase housing support for people with disability. Following a question and answer session, the Minister officially launched the Disability Strategy and thanked everyone for attending.