The Wage Subsidy Scheme, which offers private sector employers a subsidy to provide employment to people with disabilities, is to be expanded.
A number of changes to the scheme have been announced following a review of the initiative.
The scheme pays a minimum subsidy rate of €6.30 an hour to the employer, which can increase to €9.45 per hour depending on the number of people employed under the scheme.
The employment contract being offered must be of at least 15 hours per week and a subsidy can be claimed for a maximum of 39 hours per week.
The review of the scheme recommended that it be expanded to the community and voluntary sector, and commercial state-sponsored sector.
It called for the subsidy rate to be reviewed on a regular basis and recommended steps to promote and improve knowledge of the scheme.
The review found that the terms “productivity deficit” and “productivity shortfall” should be removed from the scheme.
It also called for the programme to be expanded to employers who employ people returning to work in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit.
The Department of Social Protection said it would work over the coming months to implement the recommendations with an updated scheme expected to be in place from January 2025.
An additional €3.7m was allocated in Budget 2024 to implement some of the review’s recommendations.
“The Wage Subsidy Scheme is a key support for employers to hire people with disabilities, and I commissioned this timely review to find ways to expand and improve it,” said Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys.
“It is so important that we support people with disabilities to take up employment if they are able to work. Having a job has many social, economic and health benefits,” Ms Humphreys said.
Article Source – Wage Subsidy Scheme set to be expanded – RTE
