Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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308. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the wage subsidy scheme is not being signed off by the Department for employers in order to encourage people with a disability to take up employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40009/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) gives financial incentives to private sector employers to employ people with a disability. The work offered must be for a minimum of 15 hours per week and the subsidy is available up to 39 hours per week.

The objective of the WSS is to increase the likelihood of people with disabilities obtaining and sustaining employment in the open labour market by providing financial incentives to private sector employers.

The base wage subsidy paid to private sector employers who employ people with a disability is €6.30 per hour. If an application is approved, the department will write to the employer and employee to confirm the terms of approval.

I understand that in this case the issue has now been resolved and the WSS application for this particular employer has been processed and the WSS has been approved for their employee.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.