Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
415. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 16 April, the date her Department will launch the reformed scheme combining the reasonable accommodation fund and the disability awareness support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17815/24]
View answerMy Department provides a wide range of income and employment supports to assist jobseekers and employees with disabilities, and their employers. These supports include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund provides financial support for people with disabilities and for employers to help make their workplaces more accessible. The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides funding for disability awareness training for employees.
Last autumn, I published a review of these schemes. The review recommends combining the two schemes into a single flexible scheme, simplifying systems and processes, providing approval in principle, and promoting the reformed scheme.
I have allocated an additional €1 million to implement all nine recommendations in the review.
My officials have been working to make these recommendations operational and I expect to launch the reformed scheme in the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
