Rehabilitation and training services for people with disabilities

Information

Responsibility for the delivery of employment services and vocational training for people with disabilities services currently rests with FÁS. On 1 January 2012 FÁS employment services and employment programmes were transferred to the Department of Social Protection. Vocational training is to be provided by a new further education and training authority called SOLAS. Currently vocational training and employment services are provided on an integrated basis in FÁS training centres or by service providers contracted by FÁS. In addition to a job placement scheme, there is a range of employment supports specifically for people with disabilities. These include the Wage Subsidy Scheme, workplace/equipment adaptation grants, the supported employment scheme, job interview interpreter grants and personal reader grants as well as a scheme of grant aid to employers that provide disability awareness training for their staff.

The Department of Health has responsibility for rehabilitative training (training that is not linked to the labour force) and sheltered work. Responsibility for the delivery of these services rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE). Rehabilitative training and sheltered work is provided largely in:

• Accredited training centres that are run by the HSE or by service providers contracted by the HSE and
• Designated sheltered workshops.

Rehabilitative training focuses on the development of an individual's life skills, social skills and basic work skills with the objective of enhancing the trainee's quality of life and general work capacity.

The HSE has appointed Directors of Disability Services who are responsible, among other things, for the delivery of rehabilitative training services. The Health Service Executive (HSE) have teams of guidance counsellors who offer information, advice and guidance on HSE training and sheltered work services.

Sheltered workshops