Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail the progress of the Gateway initiative scheme; her views on the progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16479/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Gateway was introduced by the Department of Social Protection 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 3,000 placements focusing on those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. Participants are 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 Garda vetting. The number of persons expected to begin work with councils will accelerate in the coming weeks. The following table reflects the number of position filled and the councils concerned as of the week ending Friday 4^thApril.