Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
273. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if any additional supports will be provided to employees of rehab enterprises, many of whom have disabilities if they lose their employment; what these additional supports will be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32402/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, this Department has not a notification of any proposed redundancies in respect of this Employer.
When my Department receives a notification of collective redundancy from the company concerned, the Employer Relations Division of my Department makes contact with the company to provide information on income, redundancy entitlements and employment supports for their impacted employees. This communication contains a video presentation to be shared with their staff.
In addition, a team from the Department is available to meet with the workforce, virtually or in person, to ensure speedy access to income supports and to support them into alternative employment, or to access appropriate education, training and development options.
When a person moves onto a jobseeker payment, this team works with the individuals focusing on what they need to assist them re-enter the workforce. This individualised support comes in various forms including the provision of supports and schemes available when a customer returns to employment, to full or part time education, or who wishes to start their own business.
My Department also provides an online jobs portal - JobsIreland.ie - where jobseekers can apply for open vacancies and employers can advertise their job vacancies. Further help is provided to jobseekers to create a CV and find their ideal job while also assisting employers to advertise their vacancies and match their requirements to jobseeker profiles already uploaded into the JobsIreland portal.
In relation to jobseekers with disabilities, additional supports are available from Intreo Disability Liaison Officers and in collaboration with Intreo partners, such as EmployAbility. If a person has a disability and is starting or returning to employment, supports are in place where they may be able to keep all or part of their existing payments.
Details of the range of supports and services available to jobseekers with disabilities is available online – “Your Guide to Our Services - Illness, Disability and Caring”. This guide sets out the range of supports including JobsPlus, the Benefits of Work Estimator, the Training Support Grant and Partial Capacity Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
