Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue of self-employment has been raised. Reference was made to entrepreneurs and supports. An issue regularly raised with me is that employers who employ a disabled person can access the wage subsidy scheme but it cannot be accessed by those who are self-employed. Could that easily be changed? Ms McDonagh referred to the access to work scheme in the UK. Are there supports for entrepreneurs or self-employed people within that scheme? Is this something that needs to be seriously addressed? As Ms McDonagh noted, many disabled people have brilliant ideas but may not follow up on them due to the fear of losing secondary benefits such as a medical card, travel pass or even a basic payment. It may take time to set up a business. People who work on commission, such as artists and musicians, are-----