Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on any new measures that she is considering to incentivise the hiring of unemployed persons from the live register in particular in areas in which there is high unemployment and local workers are finding it difficult to access any available vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11697/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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While the primary responsibility for job creation rests with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, this Department has a role in supporting people from welfare to work. The Department already operates a diverse range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payment and return to work. It is proposed that the effectiveness of these programmes will be evaluated in 2012 and that the programmes will be revised to improve their effectiveness as considered necessary. 'Pathways To Work' which was launched last week will build on existing Government policies to ensure that as many new job opportunities as possible are filled by those on the live register.

In addition to its existing programmes and support my Department will incentivise return to work by extending and simplifying the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme which exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees. Also, as part of the Pathways to Work plan, claimants will sign a rights and responsibilities contract and commit to a progression plan with the Department. The Department will engage with and provide supports (such as education, training, work placement or job search assistance) to each unemployed person to increase their prospects of securing a job. The Department will reset the relationship with employers, with more and better contact to ensure they have access to and are offered the right candidates to fill vacancies.