Written answers

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Disability Services

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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329. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of employers and businesses that use the Disability Awareness Training Grant. [19217/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers.

The training to be delivered must provide clear and accurate information about the disability, address questions that employers/employees may have and cover anti-discrimination/equal opportunities legislation. The value of the grants is as set out below:

First year a company applies 90% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000
Second and subsequent years a company applies 80% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000

The grant is promoted through

-the Department's Intreo service and employer engagement activities,

-contractors delivering Local Employment and Employability services on behalf of the Department

-the ‘Employers for Change’ service (launched in March 2021 and funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth). This service is delivered by the ‘Open Doors Initiative’ and provides a disability information service for private sector employers.
The funding available is also highlighted by private training companies and disability organisations who provide disability awareness training.

Seven employers availed of the grant in 2021 and the value of the grants issued was €15,884. It is important to note that the grant is demand-led, the number and value of the grants provided is linked to the number of applications received.

As one of the actions under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities, my Department has committed to review the operation of the Disability Awareness Support Scheme, with a report to be completed in 2023. The review of the Disability Awareness Support Scheme is timed to build on two other departmental commitments in the action plan:

1. to review of the four grants currently available under the department's Reasonable Accommodation Fund. This review commenced on the 31st of March with a report is to be completed in Q3 2022.These grants are designed to support the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector

2. the review of the departments Wage Subsidy Scheme. This subsidy provides financial incentives to private sector employers the employment of people with disabilities. This review is to commence later this year with a report to be completed in Q4 2022.

These actions are part of my Department's commitment to the improvement of its services and supports for people with disabilities.

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