MILLIONS of euro worth of grants and supports available for employers who hire people with a disability are not being accessed because of a reluctance to take on workers from this sector, a spokesman for a disability lobby group has warned.

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly yesterday leapt to the defence of under-fire referees and insisted the association will do everything in its power to ease the mounting pressure on them.

A new body representing people with disabilities has said its members should be offered the opportunity to help fill the skills gap in Irish industry.