Written answers

Thursday, 10 November 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if any grants or assistance exist to help a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55917/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a disability, aged between 16 and 66 years, who are habitually resident in Ireland.

Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a person’s ability to work.

In addition to income supports, my Department provides a wide range of services and supports to assist jobseekers with a disability to find work and to incentivise employers to recruit and support them in employment.

Disability Allowance is structured to support recipients to avail of employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375, are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. The lower earnings disregard will increase by €25 from January 2023 so a person will be able to earn €165 per week without it having any impact on their payment. 

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to become self-employed. Customers retain a percentage of their income support payment for up to 2 years.

My Department provides a case managed employment service to jobseekers, including those with disabilities, who seek support from their local Intreo Centre.  They work with an Employment Personal Advisor with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available.  Intreo also delivers a recruitment and job matching service for employers. 

Funding is also available through the Training Support Grant to help the person access private sector training providers. 

As part of our commitments under the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, my Department has commenced an early engagement approach with the Intreo service proactively engaging with persons with a disability at the earliest opportunity, to offer support and assistance to help them enter or return to employment.  The process initially focuses on persons aged 18 to 22 in receipt of Disability Allowance, before being expanded to other age groups and schemes.  

My Department recognises the additional challenges that some jobseekers with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment, and contracts for the provision of specialist employment services (EmployAbility) to help address this.  A jobseeker with a disability who is working with their Intreo Employment Personal Advisor may be referred to these service providers if it is agreed that they would benefit from the type of services and support provided.  Jobseekers work with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance.  Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.

My Department also provides a range of services and supports for employers to recruit/retain jobseekers with a disability, including financial incentives under the Wage Subsidy Scheme and Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants.  The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides funding for employers to pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague with a disability.

Budget 2023 also saw the introduction of a number of employment related measures, to further support this group:

- A €25 per week increase to the earnings disregards for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, increasing it from €140 to €165 per week. This means, from January, a person can earn €165 per week without having any impact on their payment. 

- €1m in funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants – which support the employment of disabled people in the private sector.  Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the Department will bring forward reform proposals before the end of the year.

- Changes to the JobsPlus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension from January 2023 can avail of the grants under the scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.