Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2013
294. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she views the proposed extension of the JobsPlus programme from January 2014 to include those aged under 26 years and more that six months on the live register, to be in conformity with the Employment Equality Act and other such legislative measures designed to prevent employment discrimination on the basis of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48831/13]
View answer298. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if employers who hire persons aged under 26 years and who are more than six months on the live register under the proposed extension of the JobsPlus programme from January 2014, will be in violation of the Employment Equality Act and other such legislative measures designed to prevent employment discrimination on the basis of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48830/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 298 together.
JobsPlus is a new employer Incentive, from the Department of Social Protection which encourages and rewards employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed. The Incentive replaced the existing Employer Job PRSI exemption and the Revenue Job Assist schemes with effect from the 1st July 2013. JobsPlus takes the form of a cash grant payable monthly in arrears to the employer. The value of the incentive is set at two levels: €7,500 in respect a person 12 months but less than 24 months unemployed and €10,000 for an employee previously over 24 months unemployed. As of the week ending 8th November, 514 previously unemployed people had moved into employment with the support of JobsPlus. Some 1,755 employers have made applications and 1,650 or 94% of these have been approved. Some 3,426 jobseekers have applied of which 75% have been found to be eligible to date. I expect a further 300 or so jobseekers to be matched with employers in the coming weeks. The Government agreed in the context of Budget 2014 to shorten the eligibility period for JobsPlus for younger jobseekers from January 2014. Targeted wage subsidies are a common measure used in other jurisdictions to encourage recruitment of young unemployed people and are one of a number of the measures suggested by the European Commission to member states for inclusion in their national youth guarantee programmes that will be transmitted to Brussels later this year. Issues such as that highlighted by the Deputy are being considered in advance of altering the current eligibility criteria.
