Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of progress of the JobsPlus scheme; the number of positions, companies participating, by county; and the total numbers who have availed of the scheme to date. [40102/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The JobsPlus incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods or on young people seeking work. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers in the form of a monthly grant paid over two years. Two levels of grant are payable - €7,500 or €10,000 – depending on the length of time the person is unemployed and provided the employment is maintained. Eligibility was broadened during 2015 to include young jobseekers (under 25 year olds) unemployed for four months or more in the previous six months and jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment.

Since the incentive began in July 2013 up to end September 2015, the Department has made total payments of €29.4 m to just over 5,400 employers in respect of just over 7,900 employees. Payments totalling just under €2.1 m were made to 3,954 employers in respect of 5,403 employees in September 2015. Overall, in 2015, an amount of €25.5 m has been provided for JobsPlus, with payments to end September totalling €16.6 million in the year to date.

The distribution of payment by county made in September 2015 (latest figures available) is set out in the table below.