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Minister Humphreys announces funding to improve employment opportunities for disabled people
Minister Humphreys announces funding to improve employment opportunities for disabled people
- Grants for 52 organisations to improve employment prospects and provide educational opportunities for disabled people
- Focus on building the capacity of employers to recruit, retain and help disabled people progress within their workforce
- ‘Workability Programme’ a key part of Government’s ‘Pathways to Work’ Strategy
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced funding to support and improve employment opportunities for disabled people.
The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is a new employment focused programme which aims to support disabled people to enter education and employment.
The programme will begin in January 2024, with grants available of up to €200,000 per year.
In the coming days Pobal, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, will contact the 52 applicants who reached the qualifying threshold to confirm their successful funding.
The programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 and the Department of Social Protection, and will be administered by Pobal.
The primary purpose of the funding is to provide disabled people with the opportunity to gain and sustain employment/self-employment or to access education and training to improve their employment prospects.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys commented:
“As Minister for Social Protection I have seen first-hand what disabled people can achieve in a work environment and the positive impact that this has had on them and their co-workers.
“This new programme will give an opportunity to many voluntary and community groups to deliver initiatives that will focus on disabled people living in communities the length and breadth of the country.
“I was delighted with the huge interest for this programme. I want to give certainty to the successful applicant organisations as soon as possible, so Pobal will be contacting them in the coming days and I am delighted that so many worthy projects will be supported.”
List of successful organisations:
1. Galway City Partnership Company
2. Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Limited
4. Offaly Integrated Local Development Company
5. The Down Syndrome Centre Company
6. Dublin South City Partnership Company
7. SECAD Partnership Company
8. Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability Company
9. Specialisterne Ireland Company
10. Down Syndrome Ireland
11. Forum Connemara Company
12. County Sligo Leader Partnership Company
13. Gheel Autism Services Company
14. Fingal Leader Partnership Company
15. South West Mayo Development Company
16. Limerick Youth Service
17. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
18. Wexford Local Development
20. The National Association for the Deaf
21. Ak Inspired Ability Company
22. Simon Community (Galway)
23. SDC South Dublin County Partnership Company
24. Peter Bradley Foundation Company
25. South Kerry Development Partnership Company
28. Knockanrawley Resource Centre Company
29. Empower Local Development Company
31. Camphill Communities of Ireland
32. Roscommon Integrated Development Company
33. The Galway Rural Development Company
34. Spraoi Agus Spórt Family Centre Company
35. Autism Spectrum Association of Ireland Company
36. Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Company
37. Tipperary Regional Youth Service Company
38. Dara Residential Services
39. Bray Area Partnership Company
40. Hope For People With Autism Company
41. Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company
43. Central Remedial Clinic
44. NCBI (National Council For The Blind) Group
46. Blue Teapot Theatre Company
48. Leitrim Integrated Development Company
49. Breffni Integrated Company
51. Camphill Initiatives for Social Ecology Company
52. National Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus Ireland Company