Job Initiatives

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Questions (136)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make any changes to the jobs initiative programme; if she has decided to phase this programme out over the coming months and to cease the programme by the end of the year; if she will provide long term participants on the scheme with alternative employment; if she has discussed the consequences of such a decision with her Cabinet colleagues; the steps she has taken to replace the services provided by the job initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9394/13]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Job Initiative (JI) scheme was launched in 1996. The Job Initiative is a programme that initially provided three years full-time employment for people who – on entry to the scheme – were 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of social welfare payments over that period. In November 2004 the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment decided to allow those already on the programme to remain until retirement age. Further recruitment onto the scheme was also halted from that date. Current policy is to let JI wind down naturally, with no new recruitment and a steady flow of retirements.

In the Review of Employment Support Schemes, published by this Department in November 2012 it was stated that now that responsibility for the scheme rests with the Department of Social Protection consideration might be given to the option of closing the scheme.

A stakeholder conference was held on the 18th of February to consider the recommendations made in the review and to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to debate the issues raised. Further consideration will now be given to the recommendations made over the next number of months