Louth County Council encouraged to increase disability employment targets

Louth County Council have been encouraged work towards increasing its disability employment targets.

It comes after Labour councillor for Drogheda Pio Smith tabled a motion at the February meeting of Louth County Council calling on the local authority to recognise people with disabilities "remain under-represented in public-sector employment".

Cllr Smith also said the current 6% disability employment target "lacks ambition" and should be treated as a "minimum baseline". He called on Louth County Council to work towards targets of 8% in 2027 and 10% by 2030. 

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In a written reply, Joanna Kelly, Director of Services with Louth County Council while it is noted that people with disabilities are under-represented in the public-sector, the council promotes an inclusive and accessible workplace.

She said Louth County Council currently reports that 9.4% of its staff live with a disability, which is "significantly above the statutory baseline and the national average across the sector of 6%". 

However, Ms Kelly pointed out that elected members cannot set "binding staffing targets or direct recruitment outcomes", and that it down to the Chief Executive. 

Cllr Smith called for the motion to be forwarded to the relevant Government ministers, the National Disability Authority, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.