Ms Helen Faughnan:

Yes. The participants can move directly from that. JobsPlus will be running for two years and there is no requirement for an employer to keep those people on after that period. We are hoping that if the person engages and works hard, he or she will be kept on. It is kind of a safety net for an employer, who can take on somebody, work with his or her and help his or her development along the way. Our hope is that people would be retained in employment at the end of the period.

The Senator mentioned concerns about displacement because of Gateway. These people will be carrying out work that is not currently being done by councils because they just do not have the money, people or resources to do it. It will also work for new projects, and there is a range of work being done. This feeds into the question from Senator O'Donnell as well. The process will consider outdoor maintenance of public spaces and amenities, and some good work has been done with brown-field sites, particularly in Dublin. People are working on abandoned sites to see how they can be developed to benefit the community.

Other types of initiative include digitisation of records held by councils, as well as some tourist and leisure-related trail developments and walks. There is also work being done on restoration of heritage assets and various environmental improvements. The process is open for any opportunities, developments or initiatives. We have many well-skilled people on the live register and this is an opportunity for them to engage, develop and show the skills they have available. The local authorities are engaging with unions to ensure there will not be displacement, which is one safeguard.

With regard to those under 25, we are targeting people who have been on the live register for two years as we are concerned about people who are long-term unemployed. This is an opportunity to engage with that specific cohort. At the end of the six-month trial we will review the matter to see if there is enough take-up from that cohort or if we should consider reducing the two-year timeframe.

Senator Moloney was concerned about the water company. Significant work has been done by the Department, which is engaging with water facilities and helping to select people in some areas. In other areas the water company has, if the members will excuse the pun, been flooded with applications. I have regularly seen messages around the country that advertise jobs and ensure people on the live register can get opportunities. The jobs are being advertised and our Department is indicating that if people need training or any kind of supports to get people job-ready, it can engage with them. I can get the details of engagement in the south west, as there has been a fair amount of it.