Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the jobs initiative scheme. [33194/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Job Initiative Programme (JI) which was launched in July 1996 continues to provide full time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of Social Welfare payments over that period.

The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities. The programme is sponsored by voluntary organisations and public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities.

Following changes introduced on 10 November 2004 by Minister Micheál Martin no new entrants have been admitted onto the Job Initiative Schemes. However, contracts for existing participants are renewed allowing them the option to continue until they are 65 years of age.

The 2009 budget for the Job Initiative is €39m and there are currently 1,444 participants with this number decreasing annually due to retirement and other reasons.