Disabled Irish fare worse than EU counterparts, survey finds

Irish people with disabilities or chronic illness have one of the poorest education records and are more likely to be unemployed than their disabled European counterparts, a report published by the Equality Authority finds.

The report, Disability and Labour Market Participation, looks at the impact of disability on employment and draws on a number of national and European surveys in its data.

It says that while an average of 16.4 per cent of people with disability complete third-level education in the EU, just 10.6 per cent do here. Highest rates are in Sweden (32.2 per cent), Germany (29.9 per cent) and Finland (28.3 per cent).

While an average of 18.9 per cent of disabled people in the EU have completed secondary education, just 10.9 per cent of people with a disability have here.

And while an average of 49 per cent of disabled people across 12 EU countries describe themselves as employed, just 42.4 per cent do here. Some 5.1 per cent say they are unemployed here, compared with 5.5 per cent across 12 countries. However, 52.5 per cent of Irish people with a disability describe themselves as "economically inactive", almost 10 per cent higher than the European average of 43.3 per cent.

The report notes about 2.5 per cent of the adult population - or 75,000 people - describe themselves as not working due to a permanent illness or disability. They are disproportionately in the 45 to 64 age group and are more likely to be men. The rates are highest in the Borders, Midland and Western (BMW) region.

The most common health and disability problems are: chest and breathing difficulties (reported by 15.4 per cent of those who say they have disability or chronic illness); heart/blood pressure problems (14.5 per cent); and back or neck problems (14 per cent).

Mr Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, said the study demonstrated the "significant labour market disadvantage being experienced by people with disabilities".

"This situation poses significant challenges to secure a new participation by people with disabilities," he said.