Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the plans that exist to ease the path for persons (details supplied) on long-term disability allowance who wish to take up part-time work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36943/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Persons in receipt of disability allowance (DA) may voluntarily take up work of a rehabilitative nature while remaining in receipt of their payment. In such cases a person can earn up to €120 per week without payment being affected while earnings of between €121 and €350 per week are assessed at 50% for means test purposes. Where the person can no longer continue in such employment, DA will be restored on notification by the person.

As indicated by the recent launch of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for people with disabilities, the Government is committed to increasing the participation in employment of persons with a disability, including DA recipients. I am pleased to say that the Department will lead a new working group, being set up under the CES, on making work pay for persons with a disability, looking at the complex interactions between the benefit system and net income gains in employment, with a view to devising workable solutions to difficulties identified.

I should add that currently the Department provides a wide range of work related supports for people with disabilities - these include the EmployAbility (supported employment) service, the wage subsidy scheme and the employment support programme for people with disabilities.