The EmployAbility programme is a national employment service dedicated to improving employment outcomes for job seekers with a disability. EmployAbility participants are people with a disability, which can range from physical to mental health, who are able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week and who need the support of a job coach to obtain employment in the open labour market. There are a total of 23 EmployAbility services in Ireland, each having a specific geographical remit. All potential EmployAbility clients must be referred through a Department of Social Protection INTREO office, or a Local Employment Service.
Participants should be in receipt of a disability-related social welfare payment, such as disability allowance, illness benefit, or invalidity pension. Where a potential client is not on a disability-related payment but on another payment, such as jobseeker’s payments, a medical certificate or letter from their GP to verify their illness/injury/disability is required for registration on the service.
I can assure the Deputy that there are no plans to change the eligibility criteria in this regard to access this service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.