Vol. 476 No. 5
93 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Health if the subsidies to the disabled payable under the pilot programme for the employment of people with disabilities are index linked; and the plans, if any, there are to ensure that such subsidies keep pace with annual cost of living increases. [7635/97]
95 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated for Departmental expenses in relation to the operation of the Pilot Programme for Employment of People with Disabilities for each year of the programme's operation; the amount of the allocation which is applied to support employment grants for ablebodied employees; the number of applications from enterprises for inclusion in the programme; and the reason the funds allocated to the programme have been reduced. [7652/97]
Limerick East): I propose to answer Questions Nos. 93 and 95 together.
The pilot employment programme is administered by the National Rehabilition Board on behalf of the Department of Health. The costs incurred in the administration of the programme were £30,000 in the period 1994-95 and £57,220 in 1996. The 1996 figure includes the cost of the evaluation of the programme. A total of £868,320 has issued to date under the programme in respect of support employment grants for ablebodied employees. A total of 32 applications were received for participation in the programme. Funding for the programme is provided as part of the Department's vote for services for people with disabilities. All grants and subsidies requested by the agencies participating in the programme have been paid in full.
Following review of the programme at the end of the three year pilot period, the Government decided, as an interim measure, to continue the payments of subsidies in respect of employees with a disability at their current level for a further year pending the review of sheltered and open employment by the NRB which will be completed later this year. The pilot employment programme and the whole issue of subsidies in respect of sheltered-open employment, including indexation of subsidies, will be revisited later this year.
