Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to launch a national employer awareness campaign on supported employment, with associated benefits and financial incentives for employers similar to the Workable NI model, to encourage the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities in line with Government targets under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49702/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Policy commitments regarding the employment of people with disabilities are now part of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 - 2030, which was launched on 3 September.

Under this new strategy, my Department forms part of the Employment Pillar, together with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

The strategy contains a commitment to launch and maintain a significant media campaign to change attitudes to employing people with disabilities, and to increase awareness and take-up of the supports which are administered by the Department of Social Protection.

Under the strategy, my Department will establish a Ministerial-led forum which will include engagement with relevant disability stakeholders, in order to raise awareness of support and discuss ideas related to the employment of disabled people, and to promote resources and supports available to small and medium enterprises in particular to encourage the hiring, retention, and promotion of disabled people. The implementation of these commitments is currently in the planning stage.

The Department of Social Protection leads on supports for employers and employees in the area of disability employment. Examples include WorkAbility, the Wage Subsidy scheme, and Work and Access.

WorkAbility aims to support disabled people into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire disabled people through a subsidy.

Under Work and Access, employers can apply for supports for adapting the workplace and for disability equality and inclusion training. Their employees can avail of communication support, work equipment grants and work coaches. A publicity campaign on the scheme followed the launch.

Intreo staff can also refer disabled customers to tailored supports such as Employability. Employability is a service that offers a professional job-matching service, on-going support and advice and information on employment supports for disabled people.