Jackie Cahill
Question:1021. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding will be provided in 2023 for the Ability Programme; if so, the source; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19998/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 April 2022
Questions (1021, 1022)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1022. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection when the 27 companies nationwide that are running the Ability Programme will be informed whether they are going to receive funding for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19999/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1021 and 1022 together.
The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities. The funding for the programme amounted to around €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme and the Irish Exchequer.
Last year, I put a plan in place to allow for the transition of providers and participants to new arrangements and this was agreed with the Ability Providers Subgroup. This included a two-month extension to the 26 organisations still operating under the programme at that time. The Ability Programme concluded at the end of August 2021.
On 30 July last year I announced a new employment support measure for people with disabilities under Dormant Accounts Funding (DAF). The DAF Measures to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities programme began in September and runs up to the end of 2022. 45 projects have been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this measure.
A new employment programme for people with disabilities will be included in the measures under a new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. The new disability focused employment measure will build on the learnings from the former Ability Programme.
The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - is currently compiling the Operational Programme which will be submitted for Government Approval in the summer, prior to formal submission to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated in the latter part of the year.
It is anticipated that the new disability programme will be open in 2023 to applications from organisations across the country including the 27 former Ability Programme organisations.
Question No. 1022 answered with Question No. 1021.