A Social Report for Ireland Volume II - the NESC Website

266the lack of policy and guidelines currently in place and that both employers andemployees need greater support in this area. Likewise, the OECD (2009a: 10) hasfound that people suffering from mental health conditions are typically 30 to 50 percent less likely to be employed than those with other health problems or disability.The OECD also notes that mental health problems now account for one third of allnew disability benefit claims on average.Employment of People with Intellectual DisabilitiesPeople with intellectual disabilities are often in supported or sheltered work settings(National Disability Authority, 2005a: 64). The National Intellectual DisabilityDatabase provides information on the employment of people with intellectualdisabilities, who are registered on the database. 183 Of the 17,278 people aged 18 andover who were registered on the database (2008) and availing of day services 6,574are in some form of employment (38 per cent): 25 per cent in sheltered centres, and13 per cent in an open employment setting – see Figure 9.18. The numbers in openemployment doubled between 2007 and 2008. For those in ‘sheltered work’ there isno entitlement to a minimum wage and earnings are nominal (National DisabilityAuthority, 2005: 64). 184 The HSE is undertaking a review of day service provision foradults with a disability—‘Progressing a Modern Person Centred Service’.Figure 9.18 Employment Status of People with IntellectualDisabilities, 2007 & 2008Numbers of People with Intellectual Disabilities5,0004,0003,0002,0001,00004,315 4,271ShelteredWork Centre124 93ShelteredEmploymentCentre9571,864Open Employmentwith Supports145346Open Employment20072008Source National Intellectual Database, 2007, Table 3.6.183. The database includes people with an intellectual disability who are assessed as being in receipt of, or in need of, an intellectualdisability service. It should be noted that people who are not users of disability services are not included on this database; these aremainly people with mild disabilities.184. Sheltered work for people with disabilities is provided (or arranged) by the HSE. People may be entitled to benefits/allowances, infull or in part, while engaged in sheltered work. Various income disregards apply under these schemes.