Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The number of people now at work is as high as it was in 2009. Unemployment is still too high, but the employment support measures we have introduced are paying dividends. In 2015, €1.6 billion will be made available to provide approximately 300,000 work and training places in support of the Pathways to Work strategy. This will help people acquire the skills necessary to compete for the jobs that are now being created in this economy. A total of €12 million has been allocated for the JobPath initiative next year. This will match the long-term unemployed with appropriate training and employment opportunities, allowing them to get back to work. We are also doubling the number of positions for the long-term unemployed on the Government’s wage subsidy scheme, JobsPlus, to 6,000.

As set out in the Government’s statement of priorities, to ensure that the benefits of recovery are felt by all workers, we will be establishing a low pay commission next year.

See this speech in context