Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The organisation referred to the Deputy was funded by my Department under the former Ability Programme. The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities. The funding for the programme amounted to approximately €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme and the Irish Exchequer. The Ability Programme concluded at the end of August 2021.

On 30 July last year I announced a new employment support measure for people with disabilities under Dormant Accounts Funding (DAF). The DAF Measures to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities programme began in September 2021 and runs up to the end of December 2022. In total, 45 projects were selected on foot of a competitive process and have been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. The organisation referred to by the Deputy is funded as a standalone project under this DAF measure and not as a programme in its own right.

A new employment programme for people with disabilities will be included in the measures under a new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - is currently compiling the Operational Programme which will be submitted for Government Approval in the summer, prior to formal submission to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated in the latter part of the year.

It is anticipated that the new disability programme will be open by way of a competitive process in 2023 to applications from organisations across the country including the organisation referred to by the Deputy.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.