Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has read the document, A Fair Recovery for Jobseekers with Disabilities: Sinn Féin Proposals for Immediate Action from the Department of Social Protection; her plans to take positive action on the document's recommendations to open mainstream jobseeker supports to persons with disabilities on a voluntary basis, increase the capacity and promotion of specialist employment supports and introduce a new facility to voluntarily suspend claims but have them re-instated promptly should the person become unable to work. [24848/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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In the context of the upcoming comprehensive strategy for people with disabilities and the slowness of the system in implementing change, I produced a document which makes a number of proposals on assisting jobseekers with disabilities. I ask the Tánaiste whether she has read the document and whether she will implement the positive, self-financing and simple recommendations which would change the lives of many of those who are unemployed and have disabilities.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I have read Sinn Féin's proposals on employment opportunities for people with disabilities. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to removing barriers which prevent people with disabilities from availing of employment opportunities. My Department provides a wide range of work related supports which will cost an estimated €37 million in 2015.

While any person with a disability is at all times free to avail of the Intreo service on a voluntary basis, a complete range of activation supports is being provided initially in ten locations and it is planned to expand the number of locations over time, based on operational experience. I commenced this initiative some time ago in ten locations around the country. The Department’s employment supports for people with disabilities focus on those who wish to take up work in the open labour market and have the capacity to do so. This is done in accordance with the individual who has the disability. The principal supports include the wage subsidy scheme and the employ ability service. An independent review of the latter is currently under way, with a view to ensuring that the service is operating effectively. Procedures are already in place to reinstate social welfare payments for those who are no longer able to work. Participants on the partial capacity benefit scheme, which I introduced a number of years ago, can return to illness benefit or invalidity pension if they find that they cannot continue to work. For example, a person who has multiple sclerosis and is in receipt the partial capacity benefit will still qualify for his or her original payment if he or she is unable to work. If he or she subsequently goes into remission, he or she can return to the partial capacity benefit. We are anxious to facilitate increasing participation in employment for people with disabilities.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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My questions are not meant to be critical of the Minister because, as I noted earlier, I am awaiting the comprehensive employment strategy and I acknowledge that departmental officials and disability groups have been working together to produce a strategy which would address the current shortfalls in employment support. However, it is recognised that some of our employment supports lack ambition and could be more comprehensive, and this is one of the reasons I prepared the aforementioned proposals, which are not exhaustive. A substantially lower number of people with physical or mental disabilities end up in employment in Ireland compared to other countries. In Switzerland, 80% of people with spinal injuries return to work, whereas in Ireland 78% of people with spinal injuries are unemployed. We need greater ambition in this regard. What are the Minister's intentions for the Intreo offices and for shifting attitudes away from concentrating on disabilities to a focus on abilities? That is a key issue not only for the Civil Service, but also society in general.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In regard to the actions, the partial capacity benefit provides a much needed flexibility which did not exist previously. An individual who suffers from an ongoing condition or is recovering from a serious illness can return to work on the partial capacity benefit and qualify for the social welfare disability payment if his or her condition deteriorates. It is important for people that they are not required to reapply for payments. I meet the disability groups on a regular basis and had a meeting with them recently. Perhaps the scheme could be used by more people but I think it is working well.

I have also rolled out the disability activation, DACT, pilot project, which Sinn Féin has praised. The scheme has been under way for a number of years, including the Walk PEER programme, which is available in several north-eastern counties.

The programme is currently being evaluated by Indecon International Economic Consultants with a view to seeing what learning there is, particularly regarding young adults with a disability, many of whom are focused on the Walk PEER programme, to which the Deputy referred. We are making good progress on employment supports and the policy. I anticipate being in a position to launch it shortly. The staff and voluntary groups involved in disability have been of enormous assistance in developing the programme.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The average full-time saving for a person with a disability moving into sustained employment is €10,660 per year, and this is why I said it would be self-financing. The Minister mentioned the Walk programme. There is an urgency regarding pilot programmes such as the Walk programme and, hopefully, the Minister will find in their favour and allow the approach they have taken away from disability towards ability as a model that needs to be followed. I urge the Minister to find in their favour quickly so there is no gap in services for some people. Young people with disabilities are excluded from the Youth Guarantee. Could the Minister give a commitment to examine this aspect, which may need only a minor change?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Yes. The key factor is that people should be able to engage voluntarily in all the services the Department offers. We have rolled all of it out on a consistent basis. I am very ambitious to see much more take-up of the opportunities. In practice, if people are interested in the Youth Guarantee, the staff will go out of their way to include them. As the Deputy knows, the Youth Guarantee involves calling in young people, talking to them and getting them to make a life plan. With people who have a disability, we have taken a voluntary approach, given that we do not want people to feel they are being asked to do something for which they do not feel they are ready. I have no difficulty with the Youth Guarantee.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the voluntary nature of it.