Minister Humphreys announces additional 5 organisations approved for the WorkAbility Programme

• Grants of up to €200,000 per year for 5 organisations in Limerick, Waterford, Kildare & Dublin to improve employment prospects and provide educational opportunities for disabled people
• Total number of organisations in WorkAbility now stands at 56 nationally
• The WorkAbility programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced additional funding to support and improve employment opportunities for disabled people.

The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is an employment focused programme which aims to support disabled people to enter education and employment.

The programme began in January 2024, with grants available of up to €200,000 per year.

Previously, 51 organisations were approved for funding from January 2024. The Minister has now approved funding for a further 5 organisations from July 2024 bringing the total number of projects to 56.

The 5 additional organisations approved are:

1. Business in the Community Dublin

2. Waterford Area Partnership Company Limited

3. Brothers of Charity Services Ireland – Limerick

4. Fastrack Into Information Technology CLG Dublin

5. KARE, Promoting Inclusion For People with Intellectual Disabilities Kildare

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 is 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 programme gives 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 in this programme from the beginning and am delighted to now be able to support these additional organisations. 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.”

Notes:

List of original 51 successful organisations:

1. Galway City Partnership Company

2. Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Limited

3. Cope Foundation

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

19. SOS Kilkenny CLG

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

26. Cork Simon Community

27. Avista Company

28. Knockanrawley Resource Centre Company

29. Empower Local Development Company

30. Work Equal 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

42. I.W.A. Company

43. Central Remedial Clinic

44. NCBI (National Council For The Blind) Group

45. St. Michael's House

46. Blue Teapot Theatre Company

47. IRD Duhallow Company

48. Leitrim Integrated Development Company

49. Breffni Integrated Company

50. Camphill Initiatives for Social Ecology Company

51. National Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus Ireland Company

List of 5 additional organisations announced today:

52. Business in the Community Dublin

53. Waterford Area Partnership Company Limited

54. Brothers of Charity Services Ireland – Limerick

55. Fastrack Into Information Technology CLG Dublin

56. KARE, Promoting Inclusion For People with Intellectual Disabilities Kildare