Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
626. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 14 January 2021, the position regarding the evaluation of the gateway scheme; if she has received the final report; when she will publish same; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/21]
View answerThe Gateway initiative was introduced in 2013 at a time of high unemployment in Ireland, with a target of 3,000 working opportunities.
Gateway provided work placements in Local Authorities for a period of 22 months for those who were unemployed for more than two years. During its lifetime the initiative supported 2,981 individuals.
Given the capacity of other employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), as well as the continuing reduction in the numbers who were unemployed, recruitment of participants to Gateway closed in December 2018.
Finalisation of the evaluation of the Gateway programme was delayed somewhat as a result of emergency related commitments of Departmental staff and other contributors to the report during the Covid-19 public health restrictions. However, the evaluation has recently been completed and I expect to receive the final report shortly.
