James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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1321. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding employment services and specialist training supports for adults who are on the autism spectrum; if he can provide an update on the efforts being undertaken by his Department to support adults who are on the autism spectrum in securing employment opportunities, in the context of recent statistics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46979/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a suite of employment supports for to ensure access to the workforce for all  disabled people, including those on the autism spectrum.

My Department's Intreo service is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports in the State.  In line with the spirit of the UNCRPD, disabled people can access mainstream employment and training opportunities and schemes such as the Work Placement Experience Programme, Community Employment and Tús.  Intreo staff can also refer disabled customers to tailored supports such as Employability.  This is a service that offers a professional job-matching service, on-going support and advice and information on employment supports for disabled people.

My Department is in the process of installing quiet rooms in Intreo centres, with 51 completed and a further four in progress.  These measure ensures that people on the autism spectrum have access to our Intreo centres and allow them to progress their employment and training ambitions.

I recently announced that the Department of Social Protection is a JAM card friendly organisation.  Just A Minute or JAM cards support people with an invisible disability or a communication barrier to let others know that they need extra time and patience, in a simple and discreet non-verbal manner. 

In December 2023, my Department established the WorkAbility programme.  It is co-financed with the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme.  It aims to support disabled people into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects.  Several of these projects including Aspire Ireland - The Autism Spectrum Association of Ireland, Gheel Autism Services, and Dochas Mid-West Autism Support, provide employment services and training supports to adults on the autism spectrum.

In July 2024, my Department launched a new scheme called Work and Access.  This scheme offers seven supports to help disabled people get a job or stay in work.  It also supports employers to take on or retain disabled people.  Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and disability equality and inclusion training.  Supports are available for both the business premises and remote workplaces.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire disabled people through a subsidy.  In August 2024, my Department published a review of the scheme to make it more accessible and flexible to disabled people and their employers.  Among the resulting changes were a reduction of the minimum hours for the scheme from 21 to 15 hours, and the scheme was expanded to those on Partial Capacity Benefit and to the community and voluntary sector.