Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
122. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure all job-related training activation programmes will be accessible to persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41704/14]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and is committed to removing any barriers which prevent those persons with disabilities from participating in activation programmes and employment. A wide range of activation programmes are available to persons with disabilities including access to SOLAS training courses, community employment schemes and JobBridge, the national internship programme. In addition, the Department also provides income and work-related supports specifically targeted for people with disabilities which include:
- the EmployAbility service (formerly the Supported Employment Programme) which facilitates the integration of people with disabilities into paid employment in the open labour market; and
- a number of other supports specifically directed at employers (the Wage Subsidy Scheme - which pays an employer a subsidy for employing a person with a disability; the Work Equipment Adaptation Grant, the Employee Retention Grant, and the Disability Awareness Scheme).
The Department launched the Disability Activation Project (DACT) at the end of 2012. DACT is based in the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) region and covers four specific strands associated with the employment of people with disabilities. DACT will provide invaluable guidance as to how best to further develop effective activation measures generally for people with disabilities into the future.
The Department also funds the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) project, the objective of which is to bring graduates and employers together to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities.
