Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the reasonable accommodation fund and the disability awareness support scheme; if there are future plans for the expansion of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6982/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness Support Scheme were supports offered by my Department to help make the workplace more accessible for people with disabilities.

My Department published a review of the two schemes in August 2023. This review gave nine recommendations to merge the two schemes into a single, flexible scheme and to expand and improve the supports offered under the new scheme.

In July 2024, my Department launched the Work and Access scheme. Work and Access offers seven supports to help reduce or remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. The supports include funding for a workplace needs assessment, work coaches, personal readers, assistive equipment and communication supports. Funding is also available to employers for workplace adaptations and disability equality and inclusion training.

Work and Access is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed and people working in the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces. My Department has allocated an additional €1 million a year to this scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.