Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Departmental Funding

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will continue to fund the ability programme of an organisation (details supplied) in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44758/22]

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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398. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if funding will be renewed for a programme (details supplied) in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44991/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 398 together.

The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department. The funding for the programme amounted to around €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 and, in line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Programme was published.

Last year, I put a plan in place to allow for the transition of the remaining Ability providers and participants to new arrangements and this was agreed with the Ability Providers Subgroup following a meeting with this group. This included a two-month extension to the 26 organisations still operating under the programme at that time.

The current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities was a new employment support measure for people with disabilities. On 30 July last year I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. This programme began in September and runs up to the end of 2022. All organisations were notified of the relevant timelines in advance, and this was clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this new measure, including the organisation referred to by the Deputies.

It was agreed that a new employment programme for people with disabilities would be included in the new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. This new disability focused employment measure will build on the learnings of the former Ability Programme. The new programme will also need to add complementarity to the suite of existing employment supports targeted at people with disabilities provided by my department and broader national strategies for employment of people with disabilities, including the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.

The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - has compiled the Operational Programme for Ireland which has been approved by Government. The Operational Programme has been formally submitted to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated in the latter part of the year.

Once approval is in place, 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 Deputies, along with the other 26 former Ability Programme organisations.

I can assure the Deputies that my commitment in relation to providing funding supports to improve the employment possibilities of people with disabilities has not been found wanting to date and that the concern raised by the Deputies is recognised. The Deputies will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context and will be considered in that context over the coming weeks.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputies at this time.

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