John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an organisation (details supplied) will be approved for funding for the Work4Life programme as a matter of urgency. [54664/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In August I announced a call for applications for a new programme to support the employment of people with disabilities under the new ESF+ funding. This programme, called WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is a successor to the Ability programme and will run from January 2024 to December 2028.

The WorkAbility Programme is aimed at people with disabilities aged 16+ who are in the labour market or are currently not work ready and/or are distant from the labour market. It will support projects that provide progressive pathways into education, training and employment, including self-employment, for participants based on their needs, their abilities and their potential. The programme aims to support up to 13,000 disabled people progress their employment ambitions over its lifetime.

Pobal ran an independent selection process on behalf of the Department of Social Protection and have contacted the successful organisations. The organisation mentioned by the Deputy was among the successful applicants.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.