Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to continue with the job initiative scheme; if all participants on the scheme will be allowed remain on the scheme indefinitely or to retirement age; the number of participants on the scheme and the number of these that are under 60 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10772/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Job Initiative (JI) scheme was launched in 1996. The Job Initiative programme initially provided three years full-time employment for people who – on entry to the scheme – were 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of social welfare payments over that period. In November 2004 the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment decided to allow those already on the programme to remain until retirement age (at 66). Further recruitment onto the scheme was also halted from that date. Current policy is to let JI wind down naturally, with no new recruitment. There are 1,170 persons on JI as at month-end January 2013 of whom 866 are under the age of 60.

A stakeholder conference was held on the 18^th of February 2013 to consider the recommendations made in the Review of Employment Support Schemes, published by this Department in November 2012. The conference provided stakeholders with the opportunity to debate the issues raised. Further consideration will now be given to the recommendations made over the next number of months.