Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020
158. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €5 million in dormant accounts funding for persons with disabilities to support their access to employment opportunities is available to persons. [29060/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has an approved €5 million allocation under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 which will provide Measures to Support and Improve Employment Opportunities (including self-employment) for Persons with a Disability and Carers.
Applications for funding are invited from community and voluntary organisations working at local and/or national level that wish to support and improve the employment opportunities for Family Carers, including Young Carers and Persons with a Disability.
The following are ineligible for funding:
- Statutory Bodies - however such bodies may participate in and support community and voluntary based initiatives in the project or as partners
- Sole traders
- Private individuals
- Private commercial companies and for profit organisations
- Training providers however such bodies may tender and provide services as part of the project or programme activities to the national or local organisations
- Private Trusts or Foundations
The funding will support three measures as follows:
- Measure 1- Access to Employment and Training/Education Supports for Family Carers: this funding will be targeted at promoting social inclusion and assisting family carers to build and retain contact with the labour market and training/educational opportunities. Up to €2m of the funding available will be allocated to projects which support this measure.
- Measure 2- Initiatives to Support and Develop Young Carers: this measure will seek to reduce the impact of caring on the young carer in terms of their education, socialising and future education or employment opportunities. This funding will also seek to raise awareness and provide acknowledgement of the role of young carers in schools and their local communities. Up to €1m of the funding available will be allocated to projects which support this measure.
- Measure 3- Access to Employment and Self Employment for People with a Disability: this measure will seek to promote social inclusion and assist people with disabilities in engaging with the labour market and training/educational opportunities. Up to €2m of the funding available will be allocated to projects which support this measure. The priority target group for this measure is people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafened or who are Blind, or have Visual Impairment, or who have Multiple Disabilities with a Visual Impairment. This measure will offer them practical support to start working and stay supported in work. Applications will also be considered for people with other disabilities who may benefit from this support to improve their employment opportunities or outcomes.
For all measures:
- National organisations may apply for a maximum grant of €200,000 and minimum grant of €75,000.
- Local Organisations may apply for a maximum of €50,000 and a minimum of €20,000.
- For organisations applying under M1 and M2 the maximum grant of €200,000 will be awarded.
The scheme is being administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department and my officials have worked with them to finalise the programme specifications. Full information including application forms and guidelines is available on the Pobal website at:
www.Pobal.ie. Applications are open until Wednesday 7th October, 2020, at 3pm.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
