Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 280: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to put in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities which will help people into work in all sectors. [18661/08]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 281: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to accessible vocational training. [18664/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.

Under the Programme for Government, A Blueprint for Ireland's Future 2007-2012, my Department is committed to putting in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities which will help people into work in all sectors. This strategy is a key component of the sectoral plan for my Department, which was published in 2006 pursuant to the Disability Act 2005. The most significant elements of this plan are as follows:

The enhancement of the effectiveness of employment programmes and vocational training for people with disabilities;

Further developing supports to the open market employment of people with disabilities; and

Increasing the participation rates of people with disabilities on Community Employment over the period of the plan. Significant progress has been made in implementing the sectoral plan to date.

FÁS offers a number of schemes and programmes aimed at assisting people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Supported Employment Programme, the Job Interviewer Interpreter Grant Scheme, the Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme, and the Personal Reader Grant. Reviews of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Supported Employment Programme are currently being carried out. The findings of these reviews, which are expected to be finalised shortly, will inform future actions that might enhance these programmes.

With regard to the commitment in the Programme for Government to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to accessible vocational training, this is currently being progressed as part of the policy of mainstreaming labour market services provided by FÁS for people with disabilities in line with best practice internationally. In this context, people with disabilities who are interested in exploring training options to prepare them for open employment are encouraged to register with their local FÁS Employment Services Office and meet with an Employment Services Officer who will provide them with information and occupational guidance on alternatives in their area. The Employment Services Office is the access point or gateway for all FÁS training courses and employment programmes.

All FÁS Training Centres are accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, FÁS will endeavour to put in place any additional support or assistive technology that a trainee with a disability might require to assist him/her to complete their training successfully once prior notice has been given at registration. While FÁS encourages people with disabilities to consider mainstream training options wherever possible, specialist training programmes are also available for people with disabilities should they require a greater level of support than might be available in a mainstream setting. These programmes have similar FETAC certification as mainstream training programmes.

The participation limits for persons eligible for Community Employment based on a Social Welfare disability-linked payment have been increased by 1 year. The participation limit for people with disabilities under 55 years of age is now 4 years while the limit for people with disabilities over 55 years is now 7 years. These measures were introduced in order to provide additional training to assist progression to employment.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to further boost disability employment by providing more funding to programmes such as the FÁS wage subsidy scheme and the workplace equipment adaptation grant. [18665/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers outside the public sector to compensate the employer for any deficit in productivity occasioned by an employee's disability. The FÁS budget for the Wage Subsidy Scheme in 2007 was €10.5m and the actual spend was €7.6m. Just under €7m was spent in 2006. There are currently 522 people with disabilities in open employment being supported by the Wage Subsidy Scheme. Considerable efforts have been made to date to increase the take-up of this programme by both employers and jobseekers with disabilities. My Department has commissioned Goodbody Economic Consultants to carry out a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the findings of this review, which is due shortly, will inform future actions that might enhance this programme.

The Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme is available to employers and employees who require premises or equipment to be adapted or for the purchase of specialist equipment to assist employees with disabilities to carry out their employment tasks. The budget for the Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme in 2007 was €234,000 of which €142,000 was actually spent. The actual spend in 2007 represents a decrease on the €217,000 spent under the Scheme in 2006. The issue in relation to these Schemes is not the lack of budget but rather the low take-up by both employers and people with disabilities, despite considerable awareness raising and promotional activities.

These programmes represent just two of the employment supports that FÁS has developed for people with disabilities. Others are the Job Interview Interpreter Grant Scheme; Personal Reader Grant; Employment Retention Grant Scheme and the Supported Employment Programme. FÁS promotes these supports in line with its mainstreaming agenda and to ensure that people with disabilities can access employment opportunities on an equal footing with their peers.

Any person with a disability with any queries about these supports or who is interested in exploring avenues that would help them to access employment is encouraged to register at their local FÁS office and meet an Employment Services Officer. These officers are highly experienced in career guidance and have undertaken disability awareness training.