A National Disability Authority study into the CSO data, published today, says that unemployment rates among people with disabilities remain unacceptably high despite progress made in employment, training and further education services for such people.
It cites recent CSO figures which show that just over 40% of all 16 to 64-year-olds with a disability or health problem were employed, compared to 65% of the total population in the same age bracket.
Angela Kearns, the Chairperson of the Authority, said the report showed that the potential contribution of people with disabilities to the economic and social development in Ireland has yet to be recognised.
She said their options in mainstream training programmes were still restricted due to inadequate supports and resources, and too often people with disabilities found themselves limited to segregated programmes instead of using services provided by public bodies for everyone.
The report says despite all the efforts made over the last two decades, the public sector had still to reach its target of ensuring that it employs one disabled person out of every 33 on its payroll.
It calls for the state information and advocacy body, Comhairle, to take an active role in informing people with disabilities on the range of further education, training and employment service options available to them.
The NDA also wants it to help employers to recruit people with disabilities.
