Government Defends Unpaid Placements For People With Disabilities As Parent Highlights Cleaning Tasks

But one parent Kfm News spoke to said her daughter performed tasks such as wrapping cutlery, while other participants carry out duties such as hoovering.

The CEO of Kare says participants with disabilities on a taxpayer-funded employment pathway are not being used to replace paid staff - and insists the programme is strictly training, not work.

It comes as some Kildare families claim it is “extremely unfair” that young adults with intellectual disabilities can spend months in real workplace settings without pay under the State-supported WorkAbility scheme.

Speaking on Kildare Today, CEO Margaret O’Neill defended Project Pathways, saying placements are closely supervised and designed to build confidence and skills.

She said participants are supported by on-site job coaches and the activities are structured learning tasks - not duties that would otherwise be carried out by employees.

The Department of Social Protection has also confirmed the programme can include unpaid work experience as part of preparing people with disabilities for the labour market.

However, some parents say the reality on the ground feels very different.

Ms O' Neill said a task done by a participant on the programme would not otherwise have to be done by a paid employee.

But one parent Kfm News spoke to said her daughter performed tasks such as wrapping cutlery, while other participants carry out duties such as hoovering. 

Ms O'Neill, however, said the jobs undertaken are "skills-based".

In a statement to Kfm News, the Department of Social Protection says the WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment programme was launched in December 2023 to help people with disabilities move closer to the labour market.

They said the five-year scheme, running until 2028, is co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus and supports 57 projects nationwide - including Kare’s Stepping Stones to Employment.

Officials say the programme focuses on improving employment prospects for people who are distant from the workforce and on helping employers recruit and retain staff with disabilities.

The spokesperson said activities can include vocational training, soft-skills development and work preparation measures such as work experience, job shadowing and volunteering.

The Department says Project Pathways is a structured training placement rather than paid employment, and confirms host employers do not receive funding or subsidies for taking part.

You can listen to the full interview with Ms O'Neill and Kfm's Head of News, Martin Osborne, here: