Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 April 2014
21. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there has been little political will to push JobsPlus in the marketplace; if she will support the establishment of an agency which would have the long-term unemployed on its books and big business would have to go to it in order to obtain incentives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17465/14]
View answerJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly payments is €7,500 for employing a jobseeker 12 to 24 months on the live register and €10,000 if the jobseekers were on the live register for over 24 months. Since its launch in July 2014, JobsPlus has concluded arrangements to support some 2,000 jobseekers in full-time employment, 60% of whom were previously over 24 months on the live register. JobsPlus is one of the many schemes being promoted to employers at a series of well attended employer briefing sessions which I am currently delivering throughout the country. The objective of the employer information sessions is to increase awareness of the supports available to employers and the role they can plan in tackling the level of unemployment both locally and nationally. A dedicated Employer Engagement Unit was established in the Department in 2012 to co-ordinate the Department’s engagement with employers. The unit includes staff dealing with JobBridge, the European Job Mobility (EURES) and the National Contact Centre, which hosts the Jobs Ireland website, as well as providing policy and coordination support to employer engagement across the country.
In addition, the Department’s divisional teams provide opportunities for direct engagement with employers with dedicated officers at senior management level leading the engagement process. Further engagement opportunities are being provided via the new Intreo centres which offer a single point of contact for all employment and income supports to bother jobseekers and employers. The Department has also produced an Employer Pack with information about the range of supports and services available. The Pack is available to download at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Employer-Pack.aspx.
