Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number and location of participant on the Gateway programme to date. [10071/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a county breakdown of the number of positions to be available under Gateway schemes in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10297/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 143 together.

Gateway is one of a number of initiatives being offered by the Department to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. The initiative is fulfilling the obligation in the Government’s programmes Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs which sets out specific commitments through which local authorities can support labour market activation schemes. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with the individual county and/or city council. A target of 3,000 placements, focusing on those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more, has been set for the initiative. Participants are currently being selected by a random process conducted by the Department for recruitment by county and city councils.

Progress on the roll-out has been slower than anticipated. While, to date, small numbers have started work, progress is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks. 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 at an early date.

The table under sets out the number of placements identified by the city and county councils, as well as the numbers actually engaged on Gateway as of week ending 21^st February 2014.