Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2021
169. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken to date to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to improve jobseeker supports for persons aged under 24 over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30124/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, published in October last year, committed to improve Jobseeker’s supports for people aged under 24 over the lifetime of the Government.
The Deputy is aware that age related rates were introduced for young recipients of Jobseekers Allowance to tackle high youth unemployment and to prevent long term welfare dependency. An age- related Jobseeker’s Allowance rate of €112.70 generally applies to young jobseekers aged 18-24, to incentivise them to engage in education or training in order to improve their chances of obtaining full time sustainable employment. Where a young jobseeker participates in education or training they can receive the maximum weekly personal rate of €203.
The best way of improving supports for young people is to focus on employment supports. Given the severity of the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment one of my key priorities as restrictions are gradually lifted is to focus on getting young people back to work and assisting those young jobseekers who are looking to obtain their first job.
Under the July Jobs Stimulus, my Department, along with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is committed to:
- Expanding the caseload capacity of Intreo Centres, with the assignment of 100 job coaches to provide enhanced employment services and supports;
- Increasing the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire young people. Under this scheme an employer receives the JobsPlus subsidy of €7,500 once they employ a young person who is aged under 30, who has been unemployed for just 4 months;
- Providing access to additional full-time and part-time education opportunities, including targeted short-term courses, with over 35,000 new education and training places for those currently unemployed;
- Providing incentives to employers to take on more apprentices, with the provision of a grant of €3,000 to employers for each new apprentice recruited;
- Facilitating access to the Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to those displaced by the pandemic and in receipt of PUP, by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was launched last month by my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Action Plan sets out a five-year strategy to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per year by 2025. The plan provides a roadmap to a single apprenticeship system and new supports for employers and apprentices, which will prove attractive for many young people.
My Department is at an advanced stage in developing a new Work Placement Experience Programme for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age. This programme will seek to encourage businesses to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job.” The programme aims to incentivise the participation of young people through an attractive weekly uplift to their weekly payment entitlement. It is anticipated that those currently on the Youth Employment Support Scheme will be permitted to transfer across to the new programme providing the participant and host are both agreeable. I expect to bring the Programme to government shortly for consideration and anticipate a launch of the programme shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, the Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is currently being finalised by my Department will set out how an expanded Public Employment Service will utilise its existing and expanded capacity to deliver effective services in a post-COVID labour market. This whole-of-Government strategy will seek to build upon those support measures outlined above particularly for young jobseekers.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
