Press release
Minister Humphreys announces additional 5 organisations approved for the WorkAbility Programme
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 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.”
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