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

It is important that we look at all barriers that people with disabilities face in trying to access employment. The wage subsidy scheme is an important assistance to employers and employees to get through some of those barriers. The Department recognises the additional challenges that some people with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment and contracts a specialist employment service, called EmployAbility, to help to address this. A job seeker with a disability who is working with his or her Intreo employment personal adviser may be referred to the specialist service if it is agreed that he or she will benefit from the type of service and support provided. Under EmployAbility, the person works with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.

In July 2022, Intreo commenced an early engagement process targeted at young recipients of a disability payment. Early engagement involves the public employment service actively engaging with people with disabilities at the earliest opportunity on a voluntary basis, importantly, to offer the above supports to assist them in achieving their employment ambitions.

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