Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
99. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of jobseekers who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative since July 2013; the number of these jobseekers who are still in employment; the number who are no longer in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1599/15]
View answer100. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the number of employers who have employed one jobseeker under the JobsPlus scheme; the number who have employed two jobseekers; the number who have employed three jobseekers; the number who have employed four or more jobseekers under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1600/15]
View answer101. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out any analysis of the pay levels of participants on the JobsPlus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1601/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, together.
JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained. The rate of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed.
Since July 2013, 13,083 jobseekers have confirmed their eligibility for JobsPlus. Of these, 4,838 have gone on to take up employment or are approved to take up employment as of today with the support of the initiative. Of those who commenced employment with the support of JobsPlus 238 have left employment. The number of supported employees by individual employers is set out in Table 1.
TABLE 1 – JobsPlus: Number of supported employees per employer
|
Number of Employers |
Number of Employees Employed supported by JobsPlus |
Total Employees |
|
2779 |
1 |
2779 |
|
470 |
2 |
940 |
|
126 |
3 |
378 |
|
61 |
4 |
244 |
|
8 |
5 |
40 |
|
8 |
6 |
48 |
|
8 |
8 |
64 |
|
5 |
10 |
50 |
|
4 |
7 |
28 |
|
3 |
9 |
27 |
|
2 |
11 |
22 |
|
2 |
13 |
26 |
|
1 |
20 |
20 |
|
1 |
21 |
21 |
|
1 |
22 |
22 |
|
1 |
28 |
28 |
|
1 |
29 |
29 |
|
1 |
72 |
72 |
|
3,482 |
4,838 |
Employee pay rates are a matter for agreement between the employer and employee. Under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, employees are entitled to a minimum wage, currently €8.65 per hour. Employers recruiting under the JobsPlus initiative are required to comply with the Act and other statutory provisions in respect of pay and conditions. The Department collects data from employers in respect of expected pay levels at registration. This data is summarised in Table 2.
TABLE 2 – JobsPlus: Pay levels reported by employers
|
Pay level |
Number of Employees |
Share |
|
Up to €17,500 |
937 |
19.4% |
|
€17,501 to €20,000 |
1436 |
29.7% |
|
€20,001 to €25,000 |
1442 |
29.8% |
|
€25,001 to €30,000 |
653 |
13.5% |
|
€30,001 to €35,000 |
248 |
5.1% |
|
€35,001 to 40,000 |
74 |
1.5% |
|
€40001 to €50,000 |
38 |
0.8% |
|
€50,001 to €60,000 |
8 |
0.2% |
|
More than €60,000 |
2 |
0.0% |
|
4,838 |
100% |
