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Employment Support Schemes


Who is responsible for assisting people with disabilities gain employment?

Responsibility for the training of people with disabilities in Ireland now rests with FAS. So if a person requires employment assistance or wishes to prepare for employment they should contact FAS directly.

There are a number of supports available to assist people with a disability gain employment. There are also a number of supports available to existing employees who may acquire a disability (for example, through an accident or illness) during their employment.

In many cases, a person’s disability will not impact on their job or their ability to perform it. In other cases however, a person may require adapted equipment or an adapted work environment to carry out their job effectively.
FAS has a number of employment support schemes specifically for employees with disabilities and their employers.


What grants are available from FAS?

The following grants and schemes are available from FAS, who now have responsibility for providing labour market services for people with disabilities in Ireland.


It is important to note that FAS does not provide the following services:

Personal Assistants
Disability Assessment
Transport Facilities
Education Grants

For information on these services, contact any local Citizens’ Information Centre


What does the Supported Employment Programme mean?


Supported Employment (SE) is a free support service for people with disabilities who have had difficulty getting into paid employment. It enables them to work and contribute to society by focusing on individual abilities and supports that they might need.

Job coaches, normally provided by sponsor organisations (i.e. organisations in the voluntary and community sectors that provide direct services to people with disabilities), are available to provide a range of supports, such as assisting the person in finding a suitable job, providing ‘on the job’ training, as well as providing on going support to the employee and the employer.



What does the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) mean?

The Employment Support Scheme (ESS) is available to private sector employers. It encourages them to employ people with disabilities whose work productivity levels are between 50% and 80% of normal performance for at least 20 hours per week.

Regular employment conditions such as PRSI contributions, tax deductions etc still apply to the person on the Employment Support Scheme.
FAS, the employer and the employee agree on the productivity level of the employee and an application form is completed. The employer then pays 100% gross salary as advertised and FAS pays a grant to the employer to cover the shortfall.

The employee can keep any secondary benefits (e.g. medical cards, travel pass) for one year.




What does the Personal Reader Grant mean?

Private sector employees who are blind or visually impaired, who feel that they would benefit from assistance with work related reading, can apply to FAS for a Personal Reader Grant.

FAS will normally pay a fee per hour, in line with minimum wage. It allows employees to employ someone to help with reading at work on a part-time or ad-hoc basis for a period up to 16 weeks and a maximum of 640 hours per year.

Personal Readers are not required to have any special formal qualifications, but do need a good standard of reading ability .

FAS, the employer and the employee agree the number of reading hours required and an application form is completed. The grant is then paid to the employee who in turn pays their personal reader directly.

Public sector employees are not entitled to claim this FAS grant. Rather, public sector employees with a visual impairment who require assistance with reading should contact their Human Resources Unit. In other words, public sector employers are required to make these services available from their own resources.



What does the Job Interview Interpreter Grant (JIIG) mean?

People who have a hearing or speech impairment, who feel that they would benefit from having an interpreter present at job interviews, can apply to FAS for a Job Interview Interpreter Grant (JIIG).

FAS will normally pay a fee of 106.68 euro for a three-hour period. Travel costs for the interpreter are paid at a set rate.

Individuals must source the interpreter themselves and complete an application form. At the interview stage, the form is then signed and stamped by both the employer and the interpreter. There is no limit to the number of interviews a person can attend with an interpreter.



What does the Workplace Equipment / Adaptation Grant (WEAG) mean?


If a private sector employee with a disability requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do their job, they or their employer may be able to get a grant towards the cost of adapting premises or equipment.

A maximum grant of 6,348.70 euro is available for adaptations such as minor building works (e.g. ramps or modifications to toilet facilities), alarm systems with flashing lights, voice synthesisers etc.

Applicants identify the adaptation required and complete an application form. The grant is then paid to the applicant once the costs for the adaptations have been agreed.

Public sector employers and their employees with disabilities are not entitled to claim this FAS grant. Rather, public sector employees who require adaptive or assistive technology or changes to their workplace should contact their Human Resources Unit. In other words, public sector employers are required to make these services available from their own resources.



What does the Employee Retention Grant Scheme (ERGS) mean?

In cases where a private sector employee acquires a disability or an illness and requires retraining or alternative duties, the Employee Retention Grant scheme is available. There are two distinct stages for availing of this grant. The first involves the development of a retention strategy for the employee and the second addresses the implementation of such a strategy. A maximum of 2,500 euro is available for stage one of the process and a maximum of 12,500 euro for the second (implementation) stage.

Public sector employers and their employees with disabilities are not entitled to claim this FAS grant. Rather, public sector employees who require adaptive or assistive technology or changes to their workplace should contact their Human Resources Unit. In other words, public sector employers are required to make these services available from their own resources.



What does the Disability Awareness Training for Employers Scheme mean?

In an effort to promote the employment of people with disabilities, a grant is now available to private sector companies to cover the cost of delivering disability awareness training to their employees.

FAS will cover 90% of training costs in year one and a further 80% in subsequent years. The maximum available in any one year is 20,000 euro. A list of disability awareness trainers is available directly from FÀS.


What other schemes are available?

There are a number of other schemes available through Social Welfare including:


See below for further information.


What does the Back to Work Allowance (BTWA) mean?

This scheme is available to those who have been receipt of disability allowance, the blind pension or invalidity pension for 15 months (or 12 months if aged over 50 years) and those in receipt of disability benefit for 3 years.

Social welfare will pay (in addition to their wage) a weekly amount to those who return to work for a minimum of 20 hours a week.



What does the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance mean?


This scheme is available to those who wish to become self employed and who have been receipt of disability allowance, the blind pension or invalidity pension for 15 months (or 12 months if aged over 50 years) and those in receipt of disability benefit for 3 years.


What does the Employer’s PRSI Exemption Scheme mean?



Employers who recruit a person who is in receipt of the Back to Work Allowance Scheme for the first time, are exempt from paying PRSI for a period of 2 years, provided the person continues on in their employment.



What does the Revenue Job Assist – double deduction mean?

This scheme is open to employers who recruit a person who has been unemployed for 12 months or longer, giving them a double wage deduction for a period of three years.


Where can I find out more information?

Comhairle is the national agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy on social services.
http://www.comhairle.ie∞

FÁS is Ireland's national training and employment authority.
http://www.fas.ie/∞

Oasis (Online Access to Services, Information and Support) is an Irish Government website which provides information on social and civil rights. http://www.oasis.gov.ie∞

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has information on disability benefits.
http://www.welfare.ie/∞

The Equality Authority works towards the elimination of discrimination
in Ireland.
http://www.equality.ie/∞

The National Disability Authority (NDA) promotes and helps secure the rights of people with disabilities.
http://www.nda.ie/∞

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