Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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595. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the wage subsidy scheme guidelines to enable persons with disabilities to engage in apprenticeships programmes while receiving the subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37106/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market. 

The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to employ people with a disability for between 21 and 39 subsidised hours per week under a contract of employment.  The contract of employment offered must be for a minimum of 6 months and the employee must be paid the going rate for the job (which must be at least the statutory minimum wage).

Private sector employers may claim a subsidy, subject to certain conditions, against the cost incurred where a productivity shortfall arises from a disability.  The basic rate of subsidy is €5.30 per hour giving a total annual subsidy available of €10,748 per annum based on a 39 hour week.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme is not designed for education, training or apprenticeship programmes which are temporary in nature, but aims to provide substantial full-time jobs in the open labour market for jobseekers with a disability.

Supports for apprentices (including those with a disability) and employers who offer apprenticeship positions are delivered by SOLAS.  The July Jobs Stimulus package announced by Government included provision for the introduction of a new Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers of apprentices.  This development underlines the Government‘s commitment to the value of apprenticeships and their continued expansion, while acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by employers at this time. SOLAS, as the statutory agency overseeing the apprenticeship system, has been charged with responsibility for developing, delivering and administering this new scheme.

I can assure the Deputy that I will keep my Department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme under review to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives.  However, any potential changes to these schemes can only be considered in the wider budgetary context. 

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.