Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the scheme because we want to raise awareness about it. This is not just something that is nice to have. The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 oblige employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs of both employees and job applicants with disabilities. To be honest, the uptake for the fund over the years needs to be improved. We are looking at a range of measures to encourage and support people with disabilities into the employment market. For example, both the disability allowance and the blind pension are structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their own employment ambitions, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When individuals commence employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 per week are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. We are looking at a range of ways to improve the situation for people with disabilities.

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