Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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455. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason only under 25 year olds can access the JobPlus scheme after six months instead of 12 months in view of the decision to reduce jobseeker's allowance to 25 year olds; if she will review the budget decision to exclude 25 year olds from the change in JobPlus eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45807/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobsPlus provides an immediate financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term unemployed on the live register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period while the employee is retained in full time employment. JobsPlus replaced the Employer Job (PRSI) Exemption and Revenue Job Assist schemes in July this year. It is more targeted at channelling full time job opportunities to the longer term unemployed. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are more long term unemployed by setting the value of the incentive at two levels: €10,000 over two years to employers who employ a person 24 months or more on the live registered, and a reduced rate of €7,500 over two years for those recruited who were 12 to 24 months on the live register.

In view of the introduction of an EU-wide Youth Guarantee, which is due for implementation in 2014, my Department will offer younger jobseekers an enhanced range of opportunities in the form of internships, participation on employment schemes, subsidised private-sector recruitment, and supports for self-employment. The full range of youth employment initiatives will be set out in the Government's plan for the implementation of the Guarantee, which is to be transmitted to the EU by the end of the year. My Department is currently working on a range of measures, including the measures to incentivise employers to offer more job opportunities to young people by reducing the threshold for JobsPlus eligibility from the current 12 months to 6 month. Insofar as it is possible, I intend to achieve consistency of approach across the various measures that will be introduced for 2014.