People with a disability or health problem are almost twice as likely to be without a job compared to other members of the community, new figures show.
Almost 11 per cent of the workforce has a long-standing health problem or disability, such as heart or blood pressure, according to figures in the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly national household survey.
Just over 37 per cent of people aged between 15 and 64 (110,800) with a disability indicated they were in employment, compared with an overall rate of 63.8 per cent in the same age category.
The most commonly reported disabilities related to heart problems, back or neck problems and chest or breathing problems.
CSO officials yesterday said disability rates reported by respondents were low compared to countries such as the US. Research conducted by the National Disability Authority suggests that the "welfare trap", in which low-paid workers stand to lose State benefits if they enter low-paid employment, is one of the main barriers to people with disabilities entering the workplace. A disabled person could lose their medical card and benefits such as mobility allowance, worth €142 a month, if they entered full-time work on a minimum wage.
It says obstacles to entering the workplace are also contributing to poverty rates in disabled households of almost twice the national average.
It has also questioned the use of the medical card as a "passport" for receiving disability aids, and issued a number of recommendations aimed at improving access to the workplace.
Support groups want more co-ordination of policies and services impacting on employment of people with disabilities.
Campaigners point out that the 291 people involved in the Employment Support Scheme - in which a wage subsidy is provided to employers who recruit people with disabilities - are well below the target of 1,000 places.