Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

We are working through all the recommendations and the review with a view to implementing them. One of the key recommendations was to ensure we can keep the minimum required hours and the subsidy under more regular review than was done previously. This is something we are absolutely going to make sure happens. We are also working with our colleagues in Intreo to ensure services and employment opportunities are available to people with disabilities. EmployAbility provides a professional job-matching service and ongoing support, advice and information on employment supports for people with a disability. It also acts as a recruitment advice service for employers and provides the business community with access to a pool of potential employees. In 2023, we also established the WorkAbility programme. This is cofinanced with the EU employment, inclusion, skills and training, EIST, programme to support people with disabilities into employment through 57 local, regional and national organisations. In 2024, more than 1,400 people with disabilities engaged with these projects.

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