Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1435. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has plans for his Department and Intreo staff to engage with employers and those with disabilities to facilitate a larger cohort of those with disabilities into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47455/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to working to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

Intreo Employment Service (ES) provide a wide range of supports to assist jobseekers, including those with a disability, to find work.  Intreo ES also provides recruitment advice and support for employers including information on recruitment and retention incentives.

Intreo ES offer a targeted but voluntary employment service for people in receipt of a Disability payment called ‘Early Engagement’.  This is an individualised employment service which includes advice on job seeking, access to further education, training supports and referrals to employment support schemes.  Intreo ES have recently extended the provision of this service by ensuring that there is a Designated Disability Employment Personal Advisor (DDEPA) in each of the 62 Intreo Offices nationwide.

The EmployAbility Service is a nationally provided employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability.  There are currently 23 service providers nationwide.  Intreo ES officers refer clients who are job ready to this specialist provider where they work with a Job Coach who provides pre-employment and in-employment support.

My Department’s Employer Relations team also provides a range of supports to employers in hiring people with disabilities.  Locally based Employer Relations Officers engage with employers to identify potential candidates for paid positions and traineeships.  Recruitment events are regularly arranged at which potential employees can meet with employers to discuss opportunities.  The Department also encourages employers to sign up to the Employment and Youth Engagement Charter, under which employers commit to working with people with disabilities and other priority groups to build their knowledge, skills and experience to enhance their employability.  To date, over 260 employers have signed up to the Charter commitments.  

In July 2024, my Department launched a new scheme called Work and Access.  This scheme offers seven supports to improve access in the workplace for people with a disability.  Funding is available for communication supports, work equipment, workplace adaptations and training.  Jobseekers, employees, self-employed people and employers may apply for supports both for the business premises and remote workplaces.  In June 2025, I formally launched a  reformed wage subsidy scheme together with the Taoiseach, Minister Foley and Minister of State Naughton.  This scheme provides financial incentives for employers to employ a person with a disability.  People with disabilities can also avail of employment support schemes like Work Placement Experience Programme, Community Employment Scheme, Tús, Jobsplus, Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.

Notwithstanding these improvements, the Government recognises that more must be done to support disabled people into employment.  The Programme for Government commits to a review of the minimum hours requirement and examination of the payment rate for the Wage Subsidy Scheme and an expansion of successful programmes like WorkAbility, EmployAbility and Work and Access.  We will advance those commitments over the lifetime of the Government and in light of available resources.