Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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355. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will include persons in receipt of farm assist for eligibility on JobsPlus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32365/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long-term on the Live Register. The incentive is payable, on a monthly basis, over a two year period if the employee is retained in full-time employment for two years. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. The value of the aggregate monthly payments is €7,500 for employing a jobseeker 12 to 24 months on the Live Register and €10,000 if the jobseeker was on the Live Register for over 24 months.

Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of June 2014, JobsPlus has supported 2,634 jobseekers in full-time employment with 2,007 employers nationally. Around 60% of jobseekers being supported had been on the Live Register for over 24 months at the time of recruitment. Up to the end of June 2014, payments under the JobsPlus scheme have amounted to just over €4.4 million. Overall, payments under the scheme have amounted to €5.5 million since the first payments were made in August 2013.

In line with Pathways to Work, jobseekers on the Live Register are a particular focus for intervention and the JobsPlus Incentive is, therefore, exclusively targeted at this cohort. As a result, a person in receipt of a farm assist payment is not considered eligible. The Department is completing a review of the initial phase of implementation of JobsPlus and this will inform any proposals for its development and expansion. The review will consider a range of matters, including uptake, costs and benefits, eligibility requirements, and if changes are needed to improve access and administration. Any changes will, of course, be subject to budgetary considerations.