Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1162. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the workplace adaption grant to those on community employment schemes will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4549/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1168. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider administering the workplace adaption grant consistently nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4569/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1169. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a national awareness campaign will be funded in order to proactively promote the employee retention grant scheme and workplace adaption grant to employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4570/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1162, 1168 and 1169 together.
My Department provides a range of grants and supports to assist both jobseekers with disabilities and employers to take appropriate measures to enable either a potential employee or existing employee with disabilities to obtain or retain employment. These include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund (RAF) which encompasses the following four grants:
1. Employee Retention Grant
2. Workplace Equipment / Adaptation Grant
3. Personal Reader Grant
4. Job Interview Interpreter Grant
The purpose of the Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant (WEAG) is to increase job opportunities for people with a disability by supporting any additional costs, related to the disability, incurred by private sector employers employing or retaining an employee with a disability.
The general principles of the scheme are that it:
- applies only to the additional costs of adapting workplace equipment or of the provision of equipment arising from the individual’s disability. It should not be used to provide support usually provided by employers or supports required under legislation for employees who do not have a disability;
- is a contribution towards the cost of an adaptation or of equipment up to a current limit of €6,350. It can also be used to upgrade adaptive equipment which may have been funded previously. Application in excess of this sum will be considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for the assistive technology is required;
- is not intended to meet the usual costs of setting up and running a business either for an employer or a self-employed person;
- will be treated as a grant; and
- may be used in part for training in the use of the grant-aided equipment.
Those eligible for receipt include:
- Any person with a disability who is about to take up employment with a private sector employer, change job as a result of re-deployment or promotion, or become self-employed, and who requires assistive technology or an adaptation to the workplace in order to undertake the duties required;
- Any person employed by a private sector employer who acquires a disability whilst in employment, whose employer is participating in the Employee Retention Grant Scheme (ERGS), and who requires assistive technology or an adaptation to the workplace in order to retain his/her employment;
- Any person with a disability who is employed by a private sector employer, whose condition deteriorates so that he/she requires new assistive technology or a further adaptation to the workplace in order to retain his/her employment.
The Community Employment (CE) scheme provides part-time work experience and training opportunities in local communities for people in receipt of a long term Social Welfare payment as a stepping stone back to employment. It is important to note that community employment, does not, nor is it intended to, provide full-time sustainable employment. As CE projects are funded by the Exchequer, participation on a CE scheme is not considered a private sector employment for the purpose of eligibility for WEAG.
The Department promotes the RAF grants through its general communications activities, employer engagement activity, Intreo service and its contracted employment service providers, such as the companies delivering EmployAbility services. Administration of the application process, for the four RAF grants is through the Department's network of Intreo offices. The Department is continually looking to improve its processes and communications and has committed to examining same relating to the RAF as part of its commitments within the revised Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) Action Plan published by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) in December 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
