Vol. 487 No. 7
227 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the assistance, if any, that is available from his Department to employers in the private sector who employ, or wish to employ, people with disabilities and where the employer incurs capital costs relating to building or adapting business premises to facilitate the employment of people with disabilities. [5283/98]
The National Rehabilitation Board administers a workplace/equipment adaptation grant scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to the employer towards the cost of adapting premises or equipment for use by employees with a disability. Typical grant assistance would be made available for the provision of: ramps for wheelchair use; alarm systems with flashing lights to assist deaf people; voice synthesisers for visually impaired computer operators; modified toilets, and machinery adaptations e.g. foot rather than hand operated.
The maximum grant available is £5,000. The 1998 budget for this scheme is currently being finalised by my Department with the NRB.
