Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the degree to which JobBridge and-or other unemployment alleviation concepts continue to play a major role in the context of economic recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42159/14]
View answerThe Department’s activation measures continue to play a major role in consolidating Ireland’s economic recovery. Jobseekers continue in growing numbers to choose JobBridge internships as a means of increasing their skills and work experience and improving their chances of returning rapidly to employment. On 24th October, 2014, 34,636 jobseekers had commenced JobBridge internships. Numbers of former interns moving into employment either directly from or within a period of months after finishing their internship continues to justify the confidence of the Department and individual jobseekers in JobBridge to make a real difference in the lives of individual jobseekers and their path back to employment.
At the end of September 2014, 2,273 employers received JobsPlus payments in respect of 3,000 employees who were previously long-term jobseekers. An expansion of JobsPlus was announced in Budget 2015 which will allow for double the number of jobseekers to be supported. I will be announcing further enhancements to JobsPlus in the coming weeks to underpin the commitment to support young people who are unemployed.
