§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what retraining facilities he intends to provide for the disabled unemployed in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ViggersRetraining for the disabled unemployed is provided at the 12 training centres operated by the Department of Economic Development and at the Thomas Doran training centre, Dungannon which provides specialised training for the disabled. Where appropriate places are also obtained at specialised training colleges in Great Britain. Rehabilitation-resettlement is provided at the employment rehabilitation centre, Felden, Whiteabbey for those returning to work after an illness or accident. The provision of additional facilities is kept under review.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further action he intends to take to counteract unemployment among disabled people in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersDisabled people are encouraged to use all the facilities provided through the jobmarket network
282W
District Councils 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 Antrim 2,223 8,577 25,065 18,750 25,336 27,375 40,500 43,050 43,875 47,250 51,750 Ards 5,219 11,250 12,500 15,000 18,784 19,950 22,500 25,050 28,125 32,250 37,500 Armagh 5,789 7,875 9,000 10.875 12,275 13,125 15,750 17,475 18,000 17,850 18,750 Ballymena 6,942 23,175 25,030 31,575 32,326 37,500 40,500 44,250 55,500 56,625 60,000 Ballymoney 322 2,250 1,500 1,350 874 2,025 7,200 6,150 6,375 6,750 7,500 Banbridge — — — 2,250 4,151 9,900 13,500 16,275 16,875 16,950 17,625 Belfast 65,831 129,975 211,480 262,500 353,839 479,625 546,150 579,000 600,000 624,000 660,000 Carrickfergus 4,040 13,954 20,485 22,980 26,691 30,000 31,800 35,325 39,000 40,500 42,000 Castlereagh 10,812 43,050 52,420 45,055 56,353 61,050 68,250 72,525 76,500 81,000 93,750 Coleraine 4,084 8,520 12,200 14,250 22,148 24,900 27,750 29,475 30,750 33,000 33,750 Cookstown 2,138 5,250 5,250 4,690 4,543 4,500 5,400 5,775 6,000 6,600 6,750 Craigavon 31,630 65,438 111,800 107,250 128,867 138,750 161,250 171,150 176,250 183,750 192,750 Derry 17,306 53,625 78,375 92,250 123,188 106,500 117,000 117,000 120,000 124,500 124,500 Down 7,435 7,782 13,300 12,750 15,726 15,375 17,475 18,975 22,500 31,875 33,750 Dungannon 2,351 4,125 4,900 4,875 5,679 5,700 9,000 9,525 9,750 8,250 8,625 Fermanagh 4,222 8,213 11,250 13,275 21,405 24,000 31,125 34,275 36,000 37,500 40,500 including the restart and jobclubs schemes. Encouragement is also being given to the employment of disabled persons on Action for Community Employment (ACE) projects. Additional sheltered employment places are being provided with private employers for severely disabled people. Consideration is being given to improvements in the service provided by disablement resettlement officers. Discussions are also taking place with the Northern Ireland Council on Disability to seek further ways of improving employment opportunities for disabled persons.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training and support facilities are available for the disabled unemployed in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ViggersTraining for unemployed disabled people is available on an integrated basis at training centres and on employers' premises through various departmental schemes. Specialised training is also available at the Thomas Doran centre, Dungannon. Home-based training in the use of computers has been introduced on a pilot basis for house-bound disabled people. It is intended to extend this form of training.
Support facilities are available through the disablement resettlement officers based in local jobmarkets.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the unemployment rate for disabled people from 1980 to 1987 inclusive at all social security offices in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ViggersDisabled persons claiming benefit do not have to indicate that they are disabled. The proportion of disabled persons who are unemployed is therefore not known.