Finance Minister pledges support to Cork deaf charity

FINANCE Minister Michael McGrath has pledged to support a Cork charity in improving the employment prospects of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Mr McGrath visited Deaf Enterprises, which is Ireland’s only dedicated employer of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, at its premises in Ballinlough last week.

The charity — which describes itself as a “profit for purpose” — was founded in 1987 by Father Bill Clarke, and in the years since then it has earned a reputation for high quality furniture repair, re-upholstery, French polishing, and renovation.

The deaf community has historically suffered from disproportionately high levels of unemployment, and the Cork social enterprise currently employs 35 staff, 28 of whom are deaf or hard of hearing, or identify as having a disability.

Mr McGrath told The Echo he wanted to work with Deaf Enterprises to help it develop into the future.

“One area that stands out is the role that Deaf Enterprises could play in helping people who are deaf or hard of hearing who have come through our education system at secondary level, to assist them in the path to sustainable employment that will last over the period ahead.”

Mr McGrath said it was his intention to work with Deaf Enterprises to see what funding opportunities might be available.

“There are young men and women who are coming through our education system who are deaf or hard of hearing who sometimes find it very difficult to secure employment or to retain employment.

“I think a training service provided by those with expertise could help to make that search easier, but also ensure that the job can kept and sustained over a long time period,” he said.