Sections 472A and 88A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provide for the Revenue Job Assist scheme which provides tax incentives for both employers and employees to help the long-term unemployed return to employment. Both incentives apply in respect of individuals who have been unemployed for at least 12 months and are in receipt of a specified social protection payment or who are in a category approved for the purposes of the scheme by the Minister for Social Protection with the consent of the Minister for Finance. The requirement to be unemployed for at least 12 months helps to target the relief at those who can find it more difficult to secure employment because of the extended period for which they have been out of work. It also protects the Exchequer from the potential for significant deadweight costs that would be associated with making the relief available for all individuals on the live register that subsequently obtain employment.
The Deputy may be interested to note that I have decided to extend the scheme so that individuals signing solely for credits with the Department of Social Protection can also qualify for the relief, providing that all of the other governing conditions of the scheme are met. This is provided for in Section 10 of Finance Bill 2012.