Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
74. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to further reduce the minimum hours worked requirement for the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15526/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wage Subsidy Scheme is a key disability employment support. It aims to encourage employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to disabled people through a subsidy. In January 2026, there were 2,613 employees employed through the Wage Subsidy Scheme and 1,546 employers availing of the scheme. Expenditure on the scheme in 2025 is estimated at €22.1 million.
In 2024, my Department published a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme. In April 2024, based on the findings of that review, the minimum required hours for the scheme were reduced from 21 hours per week to 15 hours per week. This change sought to make the scheme more accessible and flexible to disabled people. However, it also sought to ensure that the Wage Subsidy Scheme maintains its key aim to encourage employers to provide substantial and meaningful work to disabled people.
Currently, there are 377 of the 2,613 employees on the scheme working fewer than 21 hours a week, with 200 of them working the minimum of 15 hours, and the vast majority working in excess of 15 hours without difficulty.
Under the Programme for Government and the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, the Government has committed to reviewing the minimum hours requirement under the Wage Subsidy Scheme.
However, the scheme needs to operate with the new 15-hour minimum requirement for a period before my Department can assess the impact this change has had on the scheme. As this reduced requirement has been in place for a relatively short time, more time is needed to analyse the effect of the recent reduction in hours.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
