Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the adequacy of supports for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; if there are any tailored supports specifically for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; if she has any plans to introduce tailored supports specifically for people with disabilities who want to start their own business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24676/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department's disability-related schemes have been structured to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. We have a number of employment supports available.

The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person who is in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit to enter or return to employment or self-employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment. Following a medical assessment if a person's restriction regarding their capacity for work is rated as moderate, severe or profound, their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous payment respectively while in employment. Partial Capacity Benefit has also been designed so that there are no restrictions or limits on earnings or on the number of hours a person can work.

A person in receipt of Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who pursues employment or self-employment can avail of an income disregard of €165 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 are disregarded for the purpose of the means test.

In the case of self-employment, the income is taken to be the gross profit less allowable work-related expenses, but not drawings. Where the person has taken “drawings” from the business which are greater than the level of income thus calculated, the drawings are assessed as cash income.

All expenses directly related to self-employment can be offset against income from self-employment. However, there is no exhaustive list of all expenses allowed since expenses vary with the nature and extent of the self-employment.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to take up self-employment opportunities. It allows a person to retain 100% of their payment in year one and 75% in year two, including any increases for a qualified adult and qualified children in payment.

The Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant is designed for a person with a disability who has been offered employment, is in employment or is self-employed, and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do the job. S/he may be able to get a grant towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment. A maximum grant of €6,350 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.