Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I await with interest the outcome of the discussions between SIPTU and the Rehab director. I take the points made by Deputy Keaveney. We have just taken over the wage subsidy scheme since the relevant division of FÁS joined the Department on 1 January. Recently, I launched the EmployAbility Service, which provides job coaches and other supports to individuals with a disability seeking employment and employers. This includes a range of possible subsidies. Currently, we are re-advertising this scheme to employers. As the Deputy noted, the subsidy is significant and helpful, so I hope there will be a positive outcome to the discussions. Rehab has been a trailblazer with regard to the employment of people with a disability and I would be concerned by any redundancies within that company. I expect to receive further reports on the situation and hope the outcome of the discussions will be successful for the workers involved.

See this speech in context