Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:190. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the recruitment embargo on local authorities, the employment opportunities envisaged under the new Gateway scheme. [41260/13]
View answerWednesday, 2 October 2013
Questions (190)
Written answers
Gateway aims to improve the employability and work readiness of participants by providing them with the opportunities to put their work skills into practice and to learn new skills to enable them to progress to work, further education or other development opportunities. In line with Pathways to Work, Gateway will provide, for those selected, opportunities to maintain work readiness and to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. The process of identifying work opportunities is currently underway in each county and city council, including the necessary consultation with stakeholders.
The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has no role in determining the positions that might be made available within each council given the range of services that county and city councils deliver. I understand, however, that a variety of tasks will be identified and made available to Gateway participants. This will include a mixture of new opportunities and opportunities to work in services that have not been provided by county and city councils due to the pressure of scarce resources.