Patricia Ryan
Ceist:1183. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding will be extended beyond 2022 to the 27 ability group programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (1183, 1184)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:1184. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the current dormant accounts fund measures to support the employment of people with disabilities programme will be extended beyond 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1183 and 1184 together.
The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department. The funding for the programme amounted to around €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme and the Irish Exchequer.
The Ability Programme concluded at the end of August 2021 and, in line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Programme was published.
Last year, I put a plan in place to allow for the transition of the remaining Ability providers and participants to new arrangements and this was agreed with the Ability Providers Subgroup following a meeting with this group. This included a two-month extension to the 26 organisations still operating under the programme at that time.
It was agreed that a new employment programme for people with disabilities would be included in the new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. This new disability focused employment measure will build on the learnings of the former Ability Programme. The new programme will also need to add complementarity to the suite of existing employment supports targeted at people with disabilities provided by my department and broader national strategies for employment of people with disabilities, including the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - has compiled the Operational Programme for Ireland which has been approved by Government. The Operational Programme has been formally submitted to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated in the latter part of the year.
Once approval is in place, it is anticipated that the new disability programme will be open by way of a competitive process in 2023 to applications from organisations across the country including the 27 former Ability Programme organisations.
The current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities was a new employment support measure for people with disabilities. On 30 July last year I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. This programme began in September and runs up to the end of 2022. All organisations were notified of the relevant timelines in advance, and this was clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this new measure.
I can assure the Deputy that my commitment in relation to providing funding supports to improve the employment possibilities of people with disabilities has not been found wanting to date and that the issue raised by the Deputy is recognised. The Deputy will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure, including Dormant Accounts Funding, are subject to the overall budgetary situation and will be considered in that context over the coming weeks.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy at this time.
Question No. 1184 answered with Question No. 1183.