Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the 2012 targets set for her Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if she will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps she is taking within her Department to create new jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1288/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There were a number of targets set for the Department of Social Protection in the Jobs Action Plan. The targets and their update are listed:

Target:- Simplify and extend the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme, which exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees. The scheme will be extended to cover the first 18 months of employment.

Action:- The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive was simplified and extended again to the end of 2012. The exemption was increased from 12 to 18 months for eligible employers who create jobs from 1 January 2012;

Target:- Eligibility criteria for the scheme will be amended to: Allow time spent on the Work Placement Programme and JobBridge count as the qualifying period for the scheme; Allow persons on eligible payments undertake short SOLAS courses without impacting on their eligibility; Allow time spent in casual unemployment count towards the qualifying period for the scheme, where a person is progressing to a new full‐time job offered by a different employer; Allow linking periods for illness payments provided on qualifying payment immediately prior to commencement of employment.

Action:- Eligibility criteria for the scheme were broadened in 2012 to allow time spent on Job Bridge, Work Placement Programme, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, Tús, Back to Education Allowance And short FÁS training courses to count towards the qualifying period for the scheme.

Now, eligible persons on JobBridge and Work Placement Programmes may be employed directly from those schemes once the required 6 month qualifying period has been satisfied. In addition, jobseekers payments paid in conjunction with periods of casual employment may count towards satisfying the 6 month qualifying period, as will breaks in jobseekers payments as a result of periods of illness during which illness benefit is paid Stats.

In 2012, 780 employers were awarded exemptions in respect of 1030 employees.

Target:- increased take‐up of support schemes available to employers who take on additional workers, such as Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme, by increasing employers’ awareness of the schemes through relevant Departments, agencies and business and employer representatives; we will actively monitor the take‐up of the schemes and remove any identified obstacles to increased take‐up. (Joint target with Revenue, DJEI, Enterprise agencies, employer representatives).

Action:- As part of the launch of Intreo, the Department produced promotional material on the schemes in question. The Minister also hosted seven employer road-shows around the country highlighting the availability and benefits of the schemes. These events included information booths from the Department and the Revenue Commissioners and also involved employers providing personal testimonials as to the benefits of the schemes. Around 2,000 attended these events. The Department will continue to engage with employers and related representative bodies/groups and provide information and guidance on the full range of employment services and supports available and how these can be accessed.

Issue to persons who are over one year unemployed a certificate to present to employers of eligibility for Revenue Job Assist.

Action:- Work is being undertaken by senior officials in a number of Departments to finalise a revised employer incentive initiative, to encourage employers to hire individuals that are long-term unemployed. The proposal to issue a certificate is currently on hold pending decisions on this new initiative;

Target:- Examine the availability of affordable childcare for people on lower incomes to determine whether existing schemes could be expanded to support people to take up employment. (Joint target with D/Children & Youth Affairs).

Action: €14 million from DSP savings will be allocated to DCYA to provide 6,000 school-age childcare places (i.e. part-time childcare places) on a phased basis during 2013. The scheme will commence with a pilot in early 2013;

Target:- Ensure that labour activation programmes continue to be aimed at enhancing the employability of the unemployed, reskilling, upskilling and keeping redundant workers/unemployed persons close to the labour market and are tailored specifically to the needs of this cohort of unemployed. (Joint target with Department of Education and Skills).

Action: MOMENTUM, a scheme for education and training interventions, is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs initiative and is currently being rolled out by the Department of Education. MOMENTUM will support the provision of free education and training projects to allow 6,500 jobseekers (who are unemployed for 12 months or more) to gain skills and to access work opportunities in identified growing sectors. MOMENTUM will provide eligible jobseekers with access to a range of quality education and training projects; Links to identified job vacancies and employers; Work placement and support; Relevant industry and NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) Certification.

Under the scheme, LMETF (Labour Market Education and Training Fund) funding is being utilised to provide education and training solutions nationwide to the needs of both unemployed individuals and employers within the context of four themes. The first three themes are based on 'clusters of occupations'. These have been chosen because there is evidence available which shows that these skills are associated with relatively good employment opportunities. Theme 4 is dedicated to under 25s and will provide a solid foundation for them to gain employment and/or continue in further education and training that will progress them into employment.

In addition, the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme run by the Department of Social Protection provides income maintenance, along with a contribution to education costs, for unemployed people returning to further or higher education, which provides a pathway to employment. Almost 26,000 people are participating in the BTEA in the current academic year.

Furthermore, those participating in part-time third-level programmes under the Springboard programme are also entitled retain any existing entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance. Provision has been made for 6,000 places in 36 institutes of technology, universities and privately-run higher education colleges. In total, participant can choose from 220 Springboard courses. These courses are in the expanding enterprise areas of ICT, medical devices, the green economy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and international financial services. Programmes are available in cutting edge cross-enterprise skills such as Six Sigma, lean and quality systems, international selling, languages, business start-up and entrepreneurship skills. Courses are free, part-time, and are at certificate, degree and postgraduate level.

With respect to job/work placement opportunities, there are a number of schemes/programmes available that are focussed on work experience, most notably JobBridge (the National Internship Scheme). Since its launch in July 2011, the Government’s JobBridge initiative has had over 13,000 commencements. Those participating on this traineeship scheme retain their unemployment payment and are also paid an extra €50 a week. An interim evaluation of the scheme suggests that the scheme has been very positive for both participants and employers.

The Department supports unemployed people who create jobs through self-employment. Currently, about 12,000 people are being supported under the Back to Work Allowance scheme and the Short-term Enterprise Allowance scheme.

The Department also manages a number of schemes providing temporary employment on works and services of value to the community. There are currently 26,000 people participating on Community Employment and Tús. As part of Budget 2013, the Government approved 10,000 new places across CE, TÚS, JobBridge and a new social employment scheme with the Local Authorities.