Written answers
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Wage Subsidy Scheme
Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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733. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce changes to the wage subsidy scheme for persons with brain injuries in view of the fact that working 21 hours as a minimum is often too difficult for many persons with this type of injury; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37233/18]
Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The objective of the wage subsidy scheme (WSS) is to increase the likelihood of people with disabilities obtaining and sustaining employment in the open labour market by providing financial incentives to private sector employers.
The scheme operates by allowing private sector employers to claim a wage subsidy payment, funded by the Department, where a productivity shortfall arises from a disability. The employment being offered must be of a minimum of 21 hours per week up to a maximum of 39 hours per week.
A significant reduction in the hours worked condition for the WSS or to link the scheme with specific types of disability would not be consistent with the aim of supporting open market employment. Consequently there are no plans to change the hours worked condition at this time.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
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