Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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459. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 1 May 2018, her plans to improve the employment progression for persons that are not active in the labour market under the guiding principal of active inclusion for the period 2018 to 2020 as set out in Pathways to Work 2016-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20159/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In recent years, the social protection system has undergone significant reforms, moving away from passive income supports to an ‘active inclusion’ approach that seeks to maximise the potential of all working age adults, with appropriate supports and services. In this context, I understand that this question relates primarily to policies related to employment progression for people with disabilities.

In line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities and Pathways to Work 2016-2020, my Department has progressively expanded mainstream activation services to cater for people with disabilities. The Intreo service, the Departments integrated employment support service, is central to this process.

People with a disability may, on a voluntary basis, seek an appointment with an employment supports case officer to discuss their employment ambitions and develop a personal progression plan. Staff in Intreo offices have undertaken training to better support persons with disabilities who want to pursue further education, training or work opportunities. While the Intreo service acts as the primary gateway to employment supports, it may also refer those with more complex needs to other bodies for specialist training or employment supports.

For example, with a disability who are job ready and need a level of support to succeed in long-term and sustainable employment can avail of the EmployAbility Service (a nationwide service, funded by and delivered on behalf of the department). The service provides a range of career advice and employment supports to employers and people with a disability, through Job Coaches. Additionally, a new programme ‘Ability’ will commence in Q2 2018. This programme aims to bring young people (aged 15-29) with disabilities, who are not yet job-ready, closer to the labour market through a range of person-centred supports. The programme will be delivered by a range of local providers who specialise in providing supports for people with a disability.

The Make Work Pay Report, published in April 2017, contains a number of recommendations covering a range of Government departments. While the Government has decided to implement some of the recommendations, others require further consultation with disability service providers and stakeholders. These include developing and extending interdepartmental and interagency protocols to ensure that the recommendations are reviewed on a regular basis. A number of the report’s recommendations, relating to my Department, have already been implemented, namely:

- People with a long-term disability who take up employment will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years

- A fast-track return to Disability Allowance in situations where the employment does not work out.

Furthermore, a number of other recommendations are the subject of on-going work, including:

- The development of a “Ready Reckoner” to calculate the net benefit of a return to work for people on a disability type payment.

- Amending legislation to dispense of the requirement that work must be of a rehabilitative nature

My Department engages regularly with employers to highlight the benefits of employing people with disabilities. It also provides a range of work related supports for employers who recruit and employ people with disabilities, including:

- The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) that has been designed to increase the likelihood of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market by providing financial incentives to private sector employers;

- The Reasonable Accommodation Fund assists employers to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability or impairment to access employment. Available grants and supports include; the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Personal Reader Grant, the Job Interview Interpreter Grant and an Employee Retention Grant.

- The Employer Information Pack, available on the Department’s website (www.welfare.ie), which contains information on services and supports available to people with disabilities and employers.

The Government remains committed to removing barriers to employment for people with disabilities by focusing on ability rather than disability and enhancing potential through education, training and employment.