Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

22. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce a facility to apply to participate on Gateway and Tús. [43376/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of Gateway is to assist the personal and social development of participants by providing short-term work opportunities with county and city councils with the objective of bridging the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Gateway is a joint initiative between this Department and county and city councils and responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual councils.Participants are randomly selected by this Department from those on the Live Register for 24 months or more and currently in receipt of a jobseekers payment. Those agreeing to be considered then have their contact details referred to the appropriate council for recruitment. Failure to respond to the Department's invitation or to offer an acceptable reason for being unable to participate in Gateway can result in sanctions for the jobseeker. A person cannot apply to participate on Gateway. All selection is undertaken by random processes conducted at local level by the Department of Social Protection. The selection is focused on those on the live register for two or more years and in receipt of a jobseekers' payment. I consider the current selection process effective and I have no proposals to alter these arrangements. The Deputy should note that a person interested in gaining access to a work placement or internship supported by the Department of Social Protection can avail of opportunities available on community employment schemes and JobBridge. Details are available on the Department website on .