Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2017
209. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2018 of extending the wage subsidy scheme to those persons in receipt of partial capacity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure in 2016 on the reasonable accommodation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10548/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons categorised as having a disability in employment here; the way this compares to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10721/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 214 and 222 together.
Through the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES), the Government is committed to increasing the share of people with disabilities working in the open labour market, given that employment plays a key role in helping to ensure economic independence and offering the best protection against poverty.
The most recently available census data (from 2011) showed that 33 per cent of people with disabilities of working age were in work, which is considerably lower than the equivalent percentage of 66 per cent for people without disabilities.
International data on employment of people with disabilities is available from the EU statistical agency, Eurostat, and these show that Irish employment rates are lower than the EU average. However, as different methodologies and definitions are used across countries, it is not possible to draw consistent comparisons between Ireland and other countries.
The reasons for lower employment rates are diverse and demand a wide-ranging response. The CES is designed to increase the numbers of people with disabilities in employment by addressing the barriers to employment and improve pathways to work. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) actively participated in the development of the strategy and takes a full part in its implementation. For instance, the DSP provides a wide range of work related supports for people with disabilities.
One of the principal supports is the EmployAbility service, which provides job coach support to people with disabilities in accessing jobs in the open labour market. Other supports include the provision of employment subsidies through the wage subsidy scheme (WSS), the reasonable accommodation fund, which provides workplace adaptation grants and specialist training courses that are specially designed for people with disabilities, and the partial capacity benefit, which is available to recipients of illness benefit for a minimum of 6 months or invalidity pension to assist them to return to the workplace. The combined cost of DSP employment supports for people with disabilities is estimated to be in the region of €55 million in 2017. It should be noted that the employment supports are of a voluntary nature and are tailored to individual circumstances and a person’s capacity to engage with education, training or job-search programmes.
In terms of expenditure on the reasonable accommodation fund, the cost of this programme in 2016 was just under €78,000.
With regard to extending the wage subsidy scheme to PCB participants, the cost is estimated to be €2.9 million on a full year basis. Given that under the scheme rules, a WSS payment can only be made where an individual is entering a new job or is in that job for less than 12 months, the costing here relates only to WSS being paid in respect of new PCB participants.
I hope this clarifies the issues for the Deputies.
