AQW 21891/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 04/02/2025
Answered On Date: 03/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether his Department will meet the redundancy costs for those in supported employment with wage subsidy through the Employment Support Scheme.

Answer:

Redundancy is not necessarily a direct impact of the Employment Support Scheme funding ceasing. My department will continue to engage with and provide guidance to the scheme providers throughout, as required.

If the employer decides that a job can no longer be sustained, and redundancy is the only viable option, my department will pay the relevant percentage portion for the statutory rate of any redundancy payments and the employer must pay their percentage. The wage subsidy is based on the person’s agreed output/productivity in their specific job role with a split contribution from my department and the Employer. Any redundancy costs is based on the same principle.