John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the responsibility his Department assumes for protecting the rights of workers participating in the JobsPlus incentive; the way in which his Department ensures that businesses availing of financial support under the initiative adhere to the relevant employment rights legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38095/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The JobsPlus incentive provides for a direct monthly payment to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register. It provides two levels of payment - €7,500 or €10,000 over two years - paid in monthly instalments provided the employment is maintained. The rate of payment depends on the length of time the person recruited was unemployed.

In order to be considered eligible for the JobsPlus incentive, an employer must be tax compliant. When the JobsPlus employment commences, the employee is protected under all existing employment rights legislation. JobsPlus employments do not differ from other employments in that respect. While issues relating to employment law and the rights of employees are a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, if the Deputy is aware of particular issues in this regard, involving employees being supported by JobsPlus he should provide the details and my Department will consider them.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.