Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how he is ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with a disability to live full and independent lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32997/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Improving the position of disabled people is a priority for Government. That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments in this area.I know many disabled people face barriers in the workplace and when looking for employment. We want to address those barriers. So, we will expand and build on successful programmes like WorkAbility, EmployAbility, and the new Work and Access programme.We will also review the minimum hours requirement under the Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities and examine an increase to the payment rate. I recently launched the revised Wage Subsidy Scheme together with the Taoiseach, the Minister Foley and Minister of State Naughton. An additional €3.7 million has been allocated for this scheme. We are also now running a media campaign to raise awareness of this very beneficial scheme for employers and employees.Linked to this is ensuring that there are intensive and appropriate activation measures and employment supports in place to help those most distant from the labour market into the workforce. We are promoting training initiatives to raise awareness and understanding of disabilities amongst Intreo staff.The issues facing disabled people cut across Government and that is why we are working on a new National Disability Strategy. It will include an employment pillar. We will also work with employers and across Government to improve employment of people with disabilities and ensure that supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities.The Roadmap for Social Inclusion aims to reduce the number of people in poverty in Ireland and increase social inclusion for the most disadvantaged. Income adequacy and social inclusion for disabled people is a very important challenge and will be included in the upcoming update to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025. The public consultation on the successor to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion is open until the end of June 2025 and all submissions are very welcome.I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.