The Tánaiste today announced people with disabilities will get a training allowance of at least £85.50 a week.
Beginning today, all people with disabilities on vocational training courses, with FÁS or a specialist agency, will get a training allowance and most will also qualify for a £25 bonus. They will also be allowed to keep their medical cards and other benefits.
Announcing the move, Ms Harney said most disabled people were dependent on social welfare payments as their only source of income while in training - placing them at a major disadvantage.
"In guaranteeing greater opportunities to people with disabilities, we must ensure that the same rights and benefits are available to all," she said.
The new allowances will vary slightly depending on the current social welfare status of the trainee, but no-one will receive less money under the new scheme.
Up to now there has been an inconsistency in the way people with disabilities were paid while on training courses. Some received their disability allowance along with a discretionary top-up payment from the training agencies. Others who did not qualify for social welfare payments were dependent on these discretionary payments.
Ms Harney also called on employers to recognise that people with disabilities can contribute to meeting labour shortages in many areas.