David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his Department's progress in relation to ensuring that their schemes and services which support mainstreaming and full participation of people with disabilities in employment as per his Department's sectoral plan; if the expansion and consolidation of projects to increase labour market participation of certain illness benefit customers has been completed and evaluated; if the publicity initiatives in relation to the automatic restoration of benefits and allowances for persons engaged in employment and activation were undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35885/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2006 my Department launched its Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. The plan is aimed at developing services that not only give people with disabilities financial security but encourage maximum participation in society. One of the objectives of the plan is to engage meaningfully with persons of working age, particularly marginalised groups and provide services directly and in co-operation with other relevant agencies to encourage and support these people in taking up relevant work, training and education or development opportunities.

My Department is committed to the development of a systematic programme of engagement for all people of working age, including people with disabilities. The Social & Economic Participation Programme under the NDP 2007-2013 will develop an active case management service for all people of working age including people with disabilities. This service will be complemented by my department's existing back to education and back to work schemes. Senior officials representing relevant departments and agencies have met to progress activation commitments under the Social Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016 and the National Development Plan. A review of existing social and family support services resources within my Department has been undertaken to identify gaps in service provision.

In addition, a project proposal entitled "Supporting Economic Participation by People with Disabilities" has been approved for funding under the European Social Fund, Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013. The high level objective of the proposal is to develop and test a comprehensive employment strategy based on individual case management of people on illness and disability welfare payments, that will have the capacity to increase their rate of employment. Planning for the project has commenced in the Border Midland and Western region where the project will be piloted. Nominations for the project board have been sought from relevant departments and agencies.

An amendment to existing legislation, effective from 1st January, 2007, provides that where a person who has been in receipt of illness benefit for a period of two years and engages in employment for less than 26 weeks, payment of the benefit will be re-instated without the requirement to serve waiting days if that person finds that s/he is unable to continue to work. A similar exemption applies with disability allowance, except that the person may engage in employment for up to 52 weeks and still qualify for immediate re-instatement of the payment, should the need arise.

These provisions ensure that people with an illness or disability can return to the labour market without fear of losing entitlement to the benefit or allowance should they find that they are unable to continue in employment. Information regarding restoration of benefits is provided by the relevant scheme areas and individual customers are advised of the arrangement where applicable.