Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2013
323. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that have been approved under the JobsPlus scheme to date; the numbers of applications relating to those unemployed between 12 and 24 months and those unemployed for more than 24 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39458/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 307, 323, 324 and 354 together.
JobsPlus was launched on 8th July 2013. This is a new incentive to encourage employers to recruit and employ persons who have been unemployed for long periods and it replaced this Department’s Employer Job PRSI Incentive Scheme and the Revenue Job Assist Scheme. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and creating a full-time position, employers will receive a direct cash incentive over two years if the person they hire has been unemployed for a prolonged period. The level of payment is higher where a person who has been unemployed for a longer period is recruited and retained.
Up to Friday 20th September 2013, the Department had received and processed applications from 1,121 employers. Over the same period, applications from 2,125 jobseekers had been received. Of these, 1,577 applications have been deemed eligible with 1,029 qualifying on the basis of being 24 months unemployed and, therefore, attracting a payment to an employer of €10,000 paid over two years. The remaining 548 applications are eligible for a payment of €7,500 over two years, having been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months.
At present, 400 eligible employers and eligible jobseekers have been matched. Of these, 250 employment contracts commenced in July and August and grant payments in respect of 236 cases will be made before the end of September. The number of applications received from persons under 25 years of age is 305, of which 256 have been deemed eligible. The initiative is expected to operate on a pilot basis initially, with €21.25 million allocated to cover costs over three years. I anticipate that this allocation will be reviewed along with other aspects of the initiative, when it has been operational for a number of months.
Further information regarding the scheme can be found at www.jobsplus.ie
