Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department, which concluded at the end of August 2021. In line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Programme was published.

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 2021 and runs up to the end of 2022. Prior to applying for this measure, all organisations were notified of the relevant timelines which were 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.

As I have stated previously, 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 to applications from organisations across the country, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy, along with the other 26 former Ability Programme organisations.

This new programme is expected to open to applications in 2023 and not 2024 as the Deputy suggests.

I can assure the Deputy that the concern he raises is acknowledged and noted. However, the Deputy will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context.

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