Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will outline his Department’s supports and schemes for employing people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21697/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a range of employment supports to people with disabilities.

My Department launched the Work and Access scheme in July 2024. This new scheme offers seven supports to help reduce and remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Grants are available for communication supports, workplace adaptations and training. Supports are available for both the business premises and remote workplaces.

In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme to support people with disabilities into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects. The programme is running from January 2024 to December 2028. It aims to support over 13,000 disabled people progress their training and employment ambitions over its lifetime.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire people with disabilities through a subsidy. In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible. In April 2024, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. The scheme was expanded to those on Partial Capacity Benefit and to the community and voluntary sector. An additional €3.7 million has been allocated to implement the review’s recommendations.

Employability is a service that, through a referral from Intreo, jobseekers with disabilities can work with a Job Coach who provides pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. It also acts as a recruitment advice service for the business community and provides employers with access to a pool of potential employees.

In July 2022, my Department launched Early Engagement. The scheme aims to proactively engage disabled people in a ‘return to work’ process in the early stages of disability or illness. All engagement is on a voluntary basis. Nearly 28,000 people have been contacted by specially trained Intreo staff and nearly 3,000 referrals have been made for further education or employment supports since the scheme launched.

Other schemes my Department provides for employing people with disabilities include the Community Employment Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme and the Work Placement Experience Programme.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.