JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who are long term on the live register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 and €10,000. The €7,500 is paid primarily in respect of those who are 12 months or more on the live register with the higher grant paid in respect of those who have been unemployed for more than 24 months. The incentive is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
The expenditure on JobsPlus in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 is shown as follows in Table 1:
Table 1: Expenditure on JobsPlus – 2013 to 2017
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017 (to end June)
|
€1.04m
|
€11.88m
|
€22.63m
|
€23.99m
|
€14.44m
|
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.