Press release
Minister Humphreys opens applications for New Employment Programme for People With Disabilities
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has today announced a call for applications for a new employment focussed programme for people with disabilities.
The programme, called “WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme”, will run from 2024 to 2028 and has an overall budget of up to €36.29 million.
The programme is aimed at supporting people with disabilities aged 16+ into the workforce.
The WorkAbility programme will support national, regional and local organisations that have experience of working with people with disabilities and who can provide progressive pathways into education, training and employment (including self-employment) for participants based on their needs, their abilities and their potential.
The programme also aims to build the capacity of employers to recruit, retain and progress people with disabilities within their workforce.
Announcing details of the new Programme today, Minister Humphreys said:
“We know that it is harder for people with disabilities to get into the workforce. Ireland has one of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities in the EU. At a time of full employment in this country, we must do more.
“As Minister for Social Protection, I am determined to support people with disabilities in every way I can – whether it’s helping them upskill or arming them with the supports necessary to achieve their ambition to set up their own business or social enterprise.
“I am committed to putting in place an employment programme focussed on people with disabilities in 2024 and I am delighted to announce details of this programme today which will be co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.
“I am focussed on improving and extending supports to help more people with disabilities get into employment and stay in the workforce. The WorkAbility Programme aims to bring people with disabilities closer to the world of work to help ensure that they realise their employment ambitions.”
Pobal is managing the process on behalf of the department and has developed a portal to facilitate the uploading of application forms for funding under this programme.
Applicants will be able to download the application form and guidelines from the Pobal website from today Thursday 10 August 2023. The programme will close for applications on Thursday 7 September 2023. Pobal will appraise the applications thereafter and successful applicants will be notified by the middle of November.
Minister Humphreys added:
“I know that this funding will be very important in supporting people with disabilities right across the country to avail of employment opportunities that they have always aspired to reach.
“The work carried out under the previous Ability Programme and the current Dormant Accounts Funded Measure, which has been in place since 2021, has been innovative and has made a huge difference in the lives of the participants. I want to continue this type of programme so that more people with disabilities avail of the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.
“This new programme will be a valuable addition to the suite of existing employment supports for people with disabilities provided by the Department of Social Protection.
“In the coming weeks, I intend to announce further initiatives to help support people with disabilities into the workforce. This will include major reforms to the Reasonable Accomodation Fund and also the publication of draft proposals for the reform of disability payments in Ireland."
The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme aims to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities under the new European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training Programme 2021-2027 and the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection, and will be administered by Pobal. The programme has an overall budget of up to €36.29 million and will run for 5 years from 2024 to 2028.
The programme will build on the former Ability Programme – a three year programme which ran from 2018-2020 which was co-funded by the ESF under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme. The programme will also build on learning from an employment measure focused specifically on people with disabilities, funded by the Department of Social Protection, utilising Dormant Accounts Funding. This Dormant Accounts Funded programme has been in place since September 2021.
The aim of the WorkAbility programme is to bring people with disabilities who are not work-ready closer to the labour market. The programme will promote employment prospects for people with disabilities who are in the labour market or who are distant from the labour market. The programme will provide progressive pathways into employment (including self-employment) through education, training, skills development, and in-work supports for participants. The Programme aims to support up to 5,000 people with disabilities aged 16+ years of age. The Programme runs for 5 years from January 2024 and will conclude in December 2028.
Organisations who wish to apply for funding under the WorkAbility Programme will be able to download the application form and guidelines from the Pobal website. The go-live date for the application portal is Thursday 10 August 2023. Applicants will be able to download the application form and guidelines from the Pobal website from 10 August 2023 and will be able to register and upload their completed application form and supporting documents from the same date. The programme will close for applications on Thursday 7 September 2023.
To improve the employment prospects of people with disabilities, including young people, who are currently distant from the labour market.
To build the capacity of employers to recruit, retain and progress people with disabilities within their workforce.
To facilitate new partnerships amongst stakeholders (people with disabilities, disability services, employment services and employers) and new approaches to providing employment supports to people with disabilities.
Pobal is a not-for-profit intermediary organisation that manages various funding programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU.
Pobal will manage the process on behalf of the department, including payment, contract management, performance monitoring, and beneficiary support and auditing.