Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the wage subsidy scheme has been extended to local authorities to encourage them to employ persons with disabilities or if there are any plans to have the scheme extended to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23436/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Since it introduction in September 2005, the Wage Subsidy Scheme has been available to the Private Sector only. The Public Sector was specifically excluded and I have no plans to change this determination.

The underlying objective of the scheme is to increase the numbers of persons with a disability in full-time employment and decrease disability welfare dependency by creating, as far as practicable, a level playing field for them in seeking out employment. The mechanism is the payment of a wage subsidy to the employer to compensate for the reduced productivity of the disabled worker. The subsidy is designed to provide an incentive to employers, to look more closely at the potential of people with disabilities to meet their labour force requirements.

In regard to the Public Sector, each Government Department already has an employment quota for people with disabilities which is funded out of their existing annual budget. In the Private Sector, no such employment quota system exists. In such circumstances, it would not be appropriate to extend the scheme beyond the Private Sector.

The 2005 Disability Act put in place a set of new obligations on Public Body employers and on the National Disability Authority (NDA) in relation to the employment of people with disabilities.

Employers have obligations to:

· Meet the 3% employment target

· Report on an annual basis to the Monitoring Committee of their parent Department in relation to the numbers of people with disabilities in their employment and the measures that they are taking to employ people with disabilities

The NDA have an obligation to compile an annual report from the Monitoring Committees on the employment target and present this to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In addition, they have the power to intervene with Public Bodies in order to promote the employment of people with disabilities.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite the application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23463/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that an application for carer's allowance was received from the above named. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite the application for a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23464/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I confirm that an application for carer's allowance was received from the above named. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of his claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment will issue on an application for one parent family payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23473/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As additional information sought from the person concerned has now been supplied a decision on her application for one-parent family payment will be made shortly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will indicate the amount of arrears due in respect of an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23475/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Arrears for the amount of €12,994.50 will issue to this customer on 15 May 2012.