Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to set down the number of persons currently availing of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12577/17]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to set down the amount of money allocated to employability services; the number of persons availing of these services; the estimated annual cost of expanding the employability service to provide places for an additional 1,000 persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12578/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support scheme aimed at employers in the private sector and is designed to incentivise the employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market. To participate on the scheme an employee must work a minimum of 21 hours per week up to a maximum of 39 hours per week. In the past 5 years the numbers on the scheme have increased from just above 1,000 to 2,349 participants in February 2017.

The EmployAbility service is a national employment and recruitment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability. The service is currently delivered by 23 limited companies, each with a specific geographical remit and each fully funded by the Department. Budget 2017 provides €9.64 million to run the service.

Each service is required to operate at a ratio of 1 Job Coach to 25 participants. The current number of active participants is about 3,000. The duration of the service for each client is 18 months. The estimated cost of 1,000 additional participants per year is €2.65 million.

I hope this clarifies the issues for the deputy.