Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

466. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No.33, 17 October 2013, if she will detail each scheme; the number of person's under 25 years on each scheme; the budget allocation for each scheme constituting the overall spend of €170m supports to young person's; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45818/13]

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

At present, budget allocations for individual schemes do not specify the amounts to be spent on different age groups.

The estimate of current expenditure on relevant programmes was based on estimated uptake by unemployed young people in 2012 on:- FÁS full-time training for unemployed people – 10,000;- The Back-to Education Allowance – 5,000;- JobBridge – 2,600;- Other schemes – 1,500.

Based on typical unit costs on each of these programmes overall, the aggregate cost of this level of participation by young people in 2012 was estimated at €170 million. It should be noted that this amount excludes expenditure on Youthreach and Community Training Workshops (aimed primarily at early school-leavers aged under 18 years). In addition, the expenditure estimate for the Back-to-Education allowance includes only the income-maintenance element funded by the Department of Social Protection – it excludes the actual cost of provision of the courses taken up by young BTEA participants.

Final estimates of cost and participants for 2013 will be produced at the end of this year when full-year cost and participant estimates (including age-breakdowns) will be available.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

467. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the Your First EURES job pilot programme announced in Budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45819/13]

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

‘Your First EURES job’ is an initiative funded by the EU Commission, the scheme assists young people throughout Europe who wish to take up work in another EU/EEA country. The support provided includes financial assistance to both the employee and the employer. The support includes a contribution to the employee towards the cost of travelling to another EU/EEA country to attend interviews and to meet accommodation costs in the first few weeks. The employer may receive funding towards cost of integrating the employee and for language training. Under this EU funded programme the combined maximum amount payable is €3,000. Plans for implementation of the Youth Guarantee are being developed for submission to Government. As part of this process, the Department is considering how Ireland can make best use of “Your First EURES job”. Full details have yet to be finalised or approved by Government but are likely to take the form of a pilot programme of a supported period of overseas work experience and training for jobseekers.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

469. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way many of the 3,000 places announced in December 2012 under the new local authority social employment scheme have been filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45821/13]

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

Gateway aims to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. In line with Pathways to Work, Gateway will help to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. The process of identifying work opportunities has been underway in each county and city council, including the necessary consultation with stakeholders, for some months. Participants are being selected by a random process conducted by the Department of Social Protection from those persons in receipt of a jobseekers allowance payment for 24 month or more. The selected jobseekers are informed that they have been selected and, if they agree, have their contact details passed to the relevant county and city council. The council is responsible for the recruitment of the persons referred by the Department having regard to general suitability and skill set and the objectives of Gateway in providing opportunities to those will benefit most from such an intervention.

Progress on the roll-out has been slower than anticipated with delays in the main related to the on-going staff restructuring processes of county and city councils, the need to engage with stakeholders, particularly staff representative bodies and trade unions, and operational matters relating to securing resources, identifying work and supervisory cover. The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has no role in determining the positions that might be made available or of internal operational matters within each council area.

Recruitment processes are at varying degrees of roll-out in 22 county and city council areas and I am hopeful that the first participants will be on the payroll shortly once Garda Vetting procedures have been completed.