Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the eligibility for entry to the Momentum programme which funds free education and training for long-term unemployed, to cater for people on disability and illness payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30713/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and provides a wide range of income and work related supports through the Department of Social Protection. These supports play an important role in facilitating increased participation in the labour force by people with disabilities.

These supports include the wage subsidy scheme (WSS), the EmployAbility (supported employment) service, the reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities and the disability awareness training scheme. For those who are in receipt of invalidity pension or illness benefit (for at least six months) and who feel they now have some capacity for work, the partial capacity benefit (PCB) scheme allows them to work and retain a portion of their social welfare payment. People on disability-related payments also have access to activation programmes such as Community employment and Jobbridge administered by the Department of Social Protection.

Unlike job-seekers where participation in activation measures through the Intreo service is mandatory, in the case of persons in receipt of disability/illness support payments, engagement with the Intreo service is on a voluntary basis and at all times they are free to contact the Intreo service. The Department has trialled in ten locations provision of full activation supports to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the Intreo service and will consider expansion to other locations on the basis of operational experience.

The Momentum programme is funded by the Department of Education and Skills through Solas and is designed on a payments by results basis specifically for long-term unemployed jobseekers. The Department of social Protection, through Intreo, identifies and refers eligible and suitable clients to the Momentum programme. The current phase of Momentum is coming to a conclusion and a decision has yet to be taken on whether or not it will operate again next year. Should it be decided to repeat the programme, the Department will together with the Department of Education and Skills and SOLAS consider if, and if so how, eligibility be extended to people with disabilities.