FÁS - Funding Technology in the Workplace
FÁS, Ireland's national training and employment authority, has responsibility for providing labour market services and supports for people with disabilities. These supports include the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant (WEAG) for people with disabilities who require access or access to assistive technology in the workplace.
Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant (WEAG)
A person with a disability who has been offered employment, or is in employment but requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do the job, may be able to get a grant from FÁS towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment. This grant only applies to the private sector.
Examples of adaptations for which a grant may be given are:
- minor building modifications such as ramps or modified toilets
- alarm systems with flashing lights
- equipment adaptation such as voice synthesisers for computers or amplifiers for telephones
- height-adjustable desks for wheelchair users.
A maximum grant of €6,348.70 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. This grant can also be used to upgrade adapted equipment funded previously. In this case a new application for the upgrade must be made rather than using the original application.
Who Can Apply?
An employee with a disability or an employer can apply for this grant if:
- the employee has been offered employment in the private sector and requires an adaptation to equipment or premises to undertake the duties required
- the employee with a disability is in employment, or recently changed jobs, and requires an adaptation to equipment or premises to undertake the duties required
- the person with a disability is self-employed.
The application form is available from your local FÁS office or it can be downloaded from the FÁS website by clicking on the following link http://www.fas.ie/NR/rdonlyres/F77398E2-211E-4F04-BEF7-7B7D2603A821/0/WeagApplication.pdf
How Does the Grant Work?
The employer, or employee, contacts their local FÁS Employment Services Office to discuss and complete the application form. The applicant identifies the equipment and/or adaptation needed, often in conjunction with the relevant disability support service eg NCBI or Enable Ireland, justifying why the equipment is needed and submits quotations as required by FÁS. The FÁS Employment Services Officer and the applicant review the application together and, if successful, FÁS pay a grant to the applicant to cover the costs agreed.
Additional grant supports available through FÁS include:
For further information on the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant and other FÁS supports listed above, contact your local FÁS Employment Services Office. To find the contact details of your local FÁS office, visit http://www.fas.ie/en/Contact+FÁS/default.htm.
