Closing the Disability Employment Gap

Published February 2025 

The Open Doors Initiative is calling for urgent action to close Ireland’s disability employment gap. Equity. Opportunity. Inclusion.

Over 1.1 million people in Ireland live with a disability, more than one in five of our population. Yet Ireland has the largest disability employment gap in the EU.  At the Open Doors Initiative (ODI), we believe this is not only a matter of fairness but of economic and social urgency. Inclusive workplaces are proven to be more profitable, more innovative, and more resilient. Research shows companies that champion disability inclusion achieve higher revenues, stronger performance, and better employee retention

Key Recommendations

• Move disability employment supports to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, ensuring they are focused on work outcomes rather than welfare.
• Develop an employer-led taskforce and charter to drive cross-departmental change.
• Launch a nationwide awareness campaign to support inclusive hiring, retention, and promotion.
• Introduce a Reasonable Accommodation Passport and expand access officers across the country.
• Invest in accessible remote working hubs, flexible work arrangements, and long-term paid placement programmes.
• Detach the cost of disability from employment status, recognising that disability-related expenses remain regardless of work.