Employers that provide disability awareness training for their staff may be able to apply for grant aid towards the cost of this training. Disability awareness aims to provide the best possible customer service to clients and customers and promotes the employability of disabled people by creating work environments that are open and welcoming to all staff.
The Disability Awareness Support Scheme is aimed at employers that provide this training and helps raise awareness of disability issues in the workplace. Disability awareness also addresses the concerns and misconceptions that employers and employees may have about working with disabled people. The scheme is administered by FÁS employment services which were transferred to the Department of Social Protection in January 2012.
Under the terms of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2011 and the Equal Status Acts 2000-2011 employers in Ireland are encouraged to initiate "positive action" training that focuses on achieving equality and eliminating discrimination.
Disability awareness training that qualifies for grant aid is suitable for the following:
Disability awareness training that is undertaken must form part of your organisation's human resources or equal opportunities policy and the programme must be approved by the managing director of your organisation. Disability awareness training (in-company or external) delivered by the parent company or associated organisation or by a member(s) of the company’s own staff will nto be eligible for funding under this scheme.
Trainers that provide disability training must be approved and registered with FÁS for their training expertise. Applications by trainers to deliver disability awareness training will be reviewed by a national committee and their performance monitored on a regular basis to ensure the highest training practices are in place.
Training programmes (in-company or external) about disability training that are delivered by a parent or associate organisation or by a member of the organisation's own staff will not be eligible for funding under this scheme.
Grant assistance of 90% of the eligible training programme costs (up to a maximum of €20,000 in any one calendar year) is available to your organisation for the first year of training.
After this first year, 80% of eligible training programme costs is covered (to a maximum of €20,000 in any one calendar year).
Eligible programme costs include:
The following activities are not grant aided.
If you wish to apply for this scheme, please contact your local FÁS Services to Business unit, who will also be able to provide a list of Disability Awareness Trainers who have registered with FÁS in association with this scheme.
Your application for approval for funding under this scheme should be submitted at least 3 weeks (but not earlier than 2 months) before the commencement of each programme. You can view an application form here (pdf).
Before grants are paid, your organisation must complete the appropriate Claim Form and return it no later than 2 months after the completion of the programme. Certificates of attendance, which must include certain specific information, supplied by the training organisation must also be supplied with the claim form. You can view a claim form here (pdf).
In order to apply for grant assistance under this scheme, your organisation must not be in receipt of grants from any other source relating to disability awareness training.