George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of employers claiming wage subsidy scheme funding under each of the three strands, for each year from 2020 to 2024; the number of participants for each strand for each year from 2020 to 2024; the total expenditure on wage subsidy scheme in each year from 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/25]

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. The table shows expenditure in the period 2020-2024 and the number of employers and employees involved in the Scheme.

The number of employers and employees in each strand does not change significantly from year to year.

In 2024, of the 2,466 employees on the scheme, 1,510 were employed under Strand 1 and 914 were employed under Strands 2 and 3 combined. A further 42 were employed under the former Employment Support Scheme.

In 2024, there were 1,322 Strand 1 employers, 147 Strands 2 and 3 employers combined, with an additional 35 Employment Support Scheme employers. The six Strand 3 employers got a subsidy towards the cost of 11 Employment Assistance Officers in total. As of 1 July 2025, a total of 307 employees are employed by Strand 3 employers.