Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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797. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will provide an update on the launch of an information campaign to promote the expanded scope of the wage subsidy scheme; his plans to promote a greater level of awareness and uptake among employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23655/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Wage Subsidy Scheme is a key disability employment support. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to people with disabilities through a subsidy.

Last year, my Department published a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

The review made six recommendations, including to reduce the minimum required hours of the scheme, to regularly review the subsidy rate, and to expand the scheme to employers outside of the private sector. In April 2024, the minimum hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 to 15 hours. An additional €3.7 million has been allocated to implement the review’s recommendations.

One of these recommendations was to promote and increase awareness of the scheme in order to encourage a greater uptake among employers. I expect to launch the reformed scheme and associated promotion campaign in the coming weeks.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.