Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
150. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of businesses that availed of the disability awareness support scheme in 2022; if there are plans to increase awareness of this scheme in the coming year to support the employment of people with disabilities in the labour force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14926/23]
View answerThe Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers. Employers can claim 90% of the eligible training costs in the first year, and 80% in subsequent years.
Three businesses received the grant in 2022 and the value of the grants issued was €14,531. It is important to note that the grant is demand-led, and so the number and value of the grants provided is linked to the number of applications received.
My Department promotes the grants through its Intreo service and employer engagement activities. In 2022, my Department held 668 events where supports including the Disability Awareness Support Scheme were promoted. There are plans to build on this in 2023. The scheme is also promoted through contracted public employment service providers such as Employability and by the ‘Employers for Change’ service. ‘Employers for Change’ is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and aims to deliver a national employer disability information service.
I would like to see a better take-up of this grant and so have asked my Department to review the scheme tis year to see how it might be made more effective.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
