Accessibility Supports

This page tells you about accessibility supports for employers.

Work and Access

Work and Access is a set of supports to help disabled people get a job or stay in work. It aims to remove or reduce barriers at work for disabled people. Supports are available for Jobseekers, Employees, Self-Employed people and Employers.

Supports for employers:

Workplace Needs Assessment: Identifies what changes are needed to help a disabled employee
In-Work Support: Helps the disabled person to do their job well
Workplace Adaptation: Covers the cost of making necessary changes to the workplace
Disability Equality and Inclusion Training: Provides training to help staff understand and support disabled people.

You can apply if you:

Are a private employer or self-employed person based in the Republic of Ireland. This includes:

private companies
community, not-for-profit, or voluntary organisation

Are a legal entity or a charity recognised by Revenue
Are tax compliant

Employers can apply for supports for current employees. If a person has accepted a job offer, you, as the employer, can apply and get approval before the employee starts work. However, the employee cannot receive the supports until they begin the job.

For more information:

Visit: gov.ie/Work and Access

Wage Subsidy Scheme

The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) helps employers to hire disabled staff. It does this by giving employers financial support to employ disabled people through a subsidy.

The job must be for at least 15 hours of work each week. Employers can claim the subsidy for up to 39 hours per week. The subsidy rate is between €7.50 and €10 per hour. The rate depends on how many employees the employer hires under the scheme.

To get the wage subsidy, the employee must have a limited ability to work due to their disability or health condition that requires the job’s tasks or role to be significantly adapted. An employer can get the wage subsidy to help cover the costs of significantly adapting the job’s tasks or role.

An employee on the scheme must have the same conditions of employment as other employees.

For more information:

Visit: gov.ie/Wage Subsidy Scheme