Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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35. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding training options and employment opportunities for persons with a disability (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7507/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation of persons with a disability in training and employment and is committed to removing barriers that prevent persons with a disability from participating more fully in society. To this end, the Department provides a comprehensive range of employment supports for people with disabilities. These supports include:

- the EmployAbility service (formerly the Supported Employment Programme), which facilitates people with disabilities into paid employment in the open labour market; and

- a number of other supports specifically for employers, including the Wage Subsidy Scheme, which pays an employer a subsidy for employing a person with a disability; the Work Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Employee Retention Grant, and the Disability Awareness Scheme.

The national internship programme – Jobbridge – is also open to people with disabilities while the activation service managed by the Department – Intreo – is available to any person with a disability who wishes to avail of the service. People with disabilities may also be eligible to avail of wider social welfare schemes such as the Back to Education Allowance and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. It should also be noted that persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA) can take up employment and avail of an earnings disregard of up to €120 per week without affecting their rate of DA payment. In addition to these supports, the Department of Education and Skills, through Solas and the Education and Training Boards provides a range of vocational training programmes in their mainline and specialist training provision to assist people with disabilities access the open labour market.