Rehab Group

Lobbying Organisation Rehab Group

Date published 20 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Employment

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Meeting with Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, to discuss measures to increase the number of people with disabilities in employment.

Intended results Increase in base rate of Wage Subsidy Scheme to bring it to 70% of National Minimum Wage A more proactive approach by Government to social procurement, including greater use of reserved contracts in public procurement, as provided for in Article 20 of EU Procurement Directive. To seek support for a labour activation programme, Work Ready, operated by Rehab, which provides employment opportunties for people with disabilities.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Kevin Gregory

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Emer Costello (Former DPO) MEP (European Parliament)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Email to Minister to request a meeting and follow up email providing additional information.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Minister to present issues and proposals from Rehab on Wage Subsidy Scheme, Work Ready Programme and the potential of reserved contracts for social enterprises providing employment for people with disabilities.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Dara Calleary Minister (Department of Social Protection)