Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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378. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed in each local authority under the new Gateway local authority work placement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7781/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Gateway was introduced to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual county and city councils. Gateway has a target to provide for 3,000 placements focusing on those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. Potential participants are currently being selected by a random process conducted by the Department of Social Protection for recruitment by county and city councils.

Progress on the roll-out has been slower than anticipated. Delays in the main relate to the on-going staff restructuring processes of county and city councils, the ongoing engagement with stakeholders, particularly Trade Unions, and operational matters relating to securing resources, identifying work and supervisory cover. So far some 1,600 work placements have been identified in councils in the initial phase of the rollout.

To date some 61 persons have commenced working with Limerick, Fingal and Louth councils, with a further 60 expected to start work with these councils in the coming weeks. Progress is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks across a further 10 council areas. Despite the obstacles identified, county and city councils have given assurances of accelerating the recruitment process to fill all places identified and to meet the target of 3,000 placements.