Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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25. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to increase employment participation levels among those in receipt of disability payments from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37487/24]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I commend the Minister's announcement during the summer, in the Hodson Bay Hotel, down the road from me, regarding the work and access programme. It is a very positive development that we are trying to actively engage with employers to put the supports in place to increase participation by people with a disability within the workforce.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am very aware of the importance of employment for disabled people. My Department has a number of supports available to assist them. Through our nationwide network of Intreo centres, we provide a case-managed employment service for jobseekers with disabilities. The person works with an employment personal adviser with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan to access the full range of employment supports available. The Department contracts specialist employment services, called EmployAbility, to provide both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance for disabled people and a recruitment and job-matching service for employers. Early engagement is targeted at recipients of a disability payment. It involves the public employment service actively engaging with people with disabilities at the earliest opportunity, on a voluntary basis, and offering supports to assist them in achieving their employment ambitions.

In December 2023, I announced the establishment of the new WorkAbility programme to support the employment of people with disabilities under the European Social Fund Plus. The programme has an overall budget of up to €36.29 million and will run from January 2024 to December 2028. It aims to support up to 13,000 disabled people to progress their training and employment ambitions over its lifetime. It will be delivered by 56 local and community organisations nationwide.

On 30 July, I launched the work and access scheme in Athlone. The scheme offers seven supports to help to reduce or remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability and allow them to get a job or stay in work. The supports include funding for a workplace needs assessment, communication supports and equipment. Funding is also available to employers for workplace adaptations and disability awareness training. The work and access scheme is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed and people working in the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces. I have allocated an additional €1 million a year to implement the work and access programme.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I commend the initiative. Someone on a disability allowance payment can receive up to €165 per week in employment. That is the incentive provided under the initiative. My concern is that once people go over that threshold, they will be taxed at 50%. The wealthiest people in this country are not taxed at 50% but we are taxing people on disability allowance who go out to work. They include, for example, people with intellectual disabilities and so forth. If they earn more than €165 a week, we will tax them at 50%. I want to see this penal taxation of earnings up to €375 reviewed and reduced.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I launched the work and access programme in the Hodson Bay Hotel. It was very encouraging to see the number of people working in the hotel who had taken up the scheme. It has made a difference to many people's lives. It is a great scheme. I commend the employers who have engaged actively with it, the Hodson Bay Hotel being a prime example.

An income disregard of €165 per week is applied, with tapering of earnings between €165 and €375. A person can earn a maximum of €505.10 per week and keep a portion of his or her disability payment. People in receipt of invalidity pension can transfer to partial capacity benefit to return to or take up employment. The personal rate of payment of partial capacity benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person's restriction regarding their capacity to work.

I do not set the tax rates. That is a matter the Deputy will have to take up with the Minister for Finance.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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However, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, sets the 50% rate under the scheme and it is that with which I have an issue.