Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons receiving disability allowance have access to Intreo services while receiving this type of social protection payment; the number of persons, if any, who switched from receiving a disability allowance payment to a jobseeker's payment in order to avail of Intreo services in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13379/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and is committed to removing any barriers that remain, which prevent those persons with a disability from participating in employment. To this end, a key objective in Pathways to Work 2016-2020 is to progressively extend and intensify the pro-active engagement approach at Intreo Centres to people with disabilities. Currently, people with a disability, including those receiving a Disability Allowance (DA) payment, can voluntarily avail of the Intreo service, where a range of supports are available. Those who present themselves at an Intreo Centre seeking employment supports are referred, without delay, to a Case Officer, or to the Local Employment Service (LES). Through this process a person can access a range of schemes and services, many of which are exclusive to people with disabilities. These include, the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS), the Employability (supported employment) Service, Specialist Training Provision and referral to a free and confidential literacy service. In addition, DA recipients can take up employment (which has been certified as rehabilitative) and earn €120 a week with no impact on their weekly DA payment. Furthermore the JobBridge internship scheme is also available to recipients of a wide range of payments including Disability Allowance.

I wish to advise the Deputy that DA recipients are not required to switch to a Jobseeker’s Payment to avail of the range of Intreo Service supports available to people with a disability.

I hope this clarifies the matter.