Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are currently on the Gateway scheme. [25507/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of the average Gateway scheme place for one year, including income support and all other costs, such as training fees and materials, incurred by her Department and the Exchequer generally; and if she will specify same. [25508/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.

Gateway is a local authority work placement initiative that aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months. Participants benefit by being involved in work, work readiness is improved and they are able to apply their existing skills and learn new ones. The scheme is also intended to assist the personal and social development of participants with the objective of bridging the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce.

The overall aim of Gateway is to provide 3,000 work placement opportunities in local authorities. While progress was initially slow, as of last Friday 19 June 2015, around three quarters of placements have been taken up involving 2,219 participants.

The current average pay costs of participants, including employers’ PRSI contribution, which is met by the Department of Social Protection, amounts to €252.51 per week. The Department will also incur annual payroll and related data collection service costs of €565,000 in 2015. Expected expenditure on Gateway by the Department in 2015 is estimated at €32 million.

A once-off payment of €615 per participant is also made to county and city councils towards training and materials costs incurred. These costs are met by the Dormant Account Fund, administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/ECLG). A further €105 per participant is available to those local authorities who have reached their agreed recruitment targets, again payable by D/ECLG.