Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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323. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an employer PRSI waiver scheme would attract more jobs. [50450/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government agreed to replace two schemes to support employers recruit unemployed people. JobsPlus is the operation title given to this new incentive and it replaced the employer job PRSI exemption and the Revenue job assist schemes. JobsPlus was designed to be a simpler, more transparent and accessible scheme whereby employers can be supported with a cash benefit to expand employment and recruit from those on the live register. Given the criticisms of the employer job PRSI exemption scheme, no consideration is being given to reinstating the scheme.

As of the week ending 15th November, 514 previously unemployed people had moved into employment with the support of JobsPlus. There are 111 JobsPlus participants aged 19-25, this equates to 21.6% of all participants. Some 1,819 employers have made applications and 1,720 or 94.5% of these have been approved. Some 3,630 jobseekers have applied, of which 76% have been found to be eligible to date. A total of 424 employers are in receipt of a JobsPlus payment for one employee. A further 37 employers are in receipt of a JobsPlus payment for more than one employee.