Thomas Gould
Question:108. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the work that her Department has carried out to increase work capacity among vulnerable cohorts including those in addiction recovery. [53846/22]
View answerTuesday, 29 November 2022
Questions (108)
Written answers
Pathways to Work 2021-2025 is the Government’s national employment strategy. The goal of Pathways to Work is to help ensure that as many jobs as possible go to people who are unemployed.
One of the strategy’s five key strands is ‘Working for All – Leaving No One Behind’, which has the objective of promoting better labour market outcomes for all, including those facing additional barriers to work, such as the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, the Traveller and Roma communities, lone parents, people with a history of addiction and people with a criminal record.
For people with a recent criminal record or a history of addiction, Pathways to Work committed to considering making the higher level of the JobsPlus subsidy available to all employers who recruit an unemployed person from these groups. This was announced as a measure in Budget 2023, whereby from January 2023, the higher rate of JobsPlus employer subsidy of €10,000 over two years, will be payable to an employer who recruits a person who has a recent criminal record or a history of addiction (within 5 years). My Department is also continuing the Prison ‘in-reach’ programmes and supporting, through its Intreo service, the progression and work placement of ex-offenders on the Work to Change programme.To further reinforce existing services, a multi-agency protocol with the Irish Prison Service, IAZIO and Probationary Service was established with the Department in 2019. This is currently under review. Dedicated Officers have been assigned to support this initiative in all locations nationally. The protocol offers enhanced employment and upskilling supports for those exiting the Prison Service.
The Traveller and Roma community face particular disadvantage in the labour market. Pathways to Work commits to engaging with community representative bodies to produce Traveller (and/or Roma) specific employment service engagement tools and developing a Traveller and Roma training, enterprise and employment plan. The Department is currently engaging on a cross-Departmental basis and with Traveller representative groups to progress these commitments. In addition, as part of Budget 2023, from January 2023, the higher rate of JobsPlus employer subsidy will be made available to employers who recruit a jobseeker who is a member of the Traveller and Roma communities.
Jobseeker activation, the engagement approach with jobseekers is defined under Pathways to Work and the Youth Guarantee programme. All unemployed jobseekers, including Traveller & Roma, Youth, People with prior convictions, refugees and those at risk of long-term unemployment engage in compulsory activation with an officer of the Department. Every jobseeker is required to agree a Personal Progression Plan that reflects a tailored support process, client-specific milestones and goals.
My Department also delivers its services and supports on a mainstream basis for disabled people and jobseekers with disabilities. Intreo provides a full range of employment services for such customers, including specific grants to support the provision of reasonable accommodations in the work place and financial incentives to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled persons.
In addition, my Department has commenced a nationwide roll out of an Early Engagement process. When fully rolled out, the Early Engagement approach will see disabled customers who, for example, turn 18 or who acquire a disability during their working life, and need support to enter or return to employment, being proactively contacted by Intreo to offer its employment services and supports at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Department also provides specialist employment services, through its contracted provision, for jobseekers with disabilities who require additional pre-employment and in-employment support. A Jobseeker who requires this type of support is referred to these specialist providers by Intreo.
Budget 2023 also saw the introduction of a number of employment related measures, to further support this group:
- A €25 per week increase to the earnings disregards for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, increasing it from €140 to €165 per week. This means, from January, a person can earn €165 per week without having any impact on their payment.
- €1m in funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants – which support the employment of disabled people in the private sector. Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the Department will bring forward reform proposals before the end of the year.
- Changes to the Jobsplus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension from January 2023 can avail of the grants under the scheme.
It is important to note, the Department provides access to Public Employment Services on a non-discriminatory basis to all those seeking access to employment opportunities, assistance with securing employment and/or access to education or upskilling opportunities.
Finally, any individual, including members of disadvantaged or vulnerable communities, looking for support from the Public Employment Service, including the services of an Employment Personal Advisor or Job Coach, can request this, on a voluntary, walk–in basis through any of the Departments Intreo centres.