Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to release the Indecon report which was commissioned by his Department over a year ago (details supplied). [12006/16]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money allocated to the EmployAbility service; the number of persons availing of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12147/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 210 together.

The EmployAbility service is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities who wish to take up employment. The budget for 2016 provides €9.6 million to run the service.

EmployAbility participants are people with a disability who are "job ready" (typically able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week and motivated to work) and need the support of a job coach to obtain employment in the open labour market. There are currently around 3,000 people with disabilities participating in the EmployAbility service.

An evaluation of the EmployAbility Service, undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants, was completed in January 2016. The evaluation examined the effectiveness and efficiency of the service and its reporting structures with the Department. The report sets out a range of proposals for the future delivery of the service so as to maximise progression outcomes for participants in a cost-effective manner. Since the completion of the report earlier this year, it has been under active consideration within my Department. It is envisaged that the report will be released to the directors and co-ordinators of the EmployAbility Service at a briefing session on the findings of the evaluation, which will take place in the near future.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.