Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date of the JobsPlus scheme; the number of participants; if there are figures available to show the performance of the initiative on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30897/14]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to ask the Minister about the progress on the JobsPlus scheme, the number of participants and the performance of the scheme on a regional basis.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. The incentive is payable monthly over two years if the employee is retained in full-time employment for those two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer-term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly payment is €7,500 for employing a jobseeker who has been on the live register for 12 to 24 months and €10,000 if the jobseeker was on the live register for more than two years, in other words, very long-term unemployed. A provision of €13.5 million has been included in the Vote of the Department for the scheme in 2014. Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of June 2014, JobsPlus has supported 2,634 jobseekers in full-time employment with 2,007 employers nationally. Approximately 60% of jobseekers being supported had been on the live register for more than two years at the time of recruitment. That is a very positive outcome. I am sure Deputy Kyne will appreciate that the longer people are unemployed, often the harder it is for them to get a breakthrough in getting back to work.

TABLE

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the information. The scheme has been welcomed by many companies in Galway where there has been significant progression towards employment.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy. As the House is filling up I ask all Deputies to make sure that employers in their constituency and local area are knowledgeable about the availability of JobsPlus because it is a very positive achievement for an individual who has been on the live register for one year or two years to get back to work. It is also very positive for their families and the local community.