Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1197. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are available for disabled entrepreneurs to set up their own business or enterprise; the estimated cost to develop a national system for entrepreneurs to access grants and other financial supports in co-operation with Intreo, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. [39842/22]
View answerThe Department's disability-related schemes have been structured to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment, as follows:
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person who is in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for 26 weeks) to enter or return to employment or self-employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment. Following a medical assessment, if a person's restriction regarding their capacity for work is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous payment while in employment. Partial Capacity Benefit has also been designed so that there are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.
Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension have been designed to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When a person is in employment, an income disregard of €140 per week is applied. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 are disregarded for the purpose of the means test.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to take up self-employment opportunities. It allows a person to retain 100% of their payment in year one and 75% in year two. This includes any increases for a qualified adult, and qualified children, in payment.
The Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant is designed for a person with a disability who has been offered employment, is in employment or is self-employed and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do the job. S/he or the employer may be able to get a grant towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment. A maximum grant of €6,350 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
The development of services to improve employment opportunities, including self-employment, for people with disabilities operates through a cross government approach under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (for People with Disabilities).
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is the lead Department with regards to the Comprehensive Employment Strategy.
Delivery under the strategy is underpinned by three year action plans, as agreed by the Comprehensive Employment Strategy Implementation Group (CES-IG). This group is independently chaired and membership is comprised of relevant departments (including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which has responsibility for Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices), agencies and disability stakeholder representatives.
Currently, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is working with the CES-IG to design the third action plan under the Strategy.
