Written answers

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Department of Social Protection

Employment Schemes

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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358. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who is working on a gateway scheme can transfer on completion of their term on this scheme to either the Tús scheme or the community employment scheme or any other scheme; if as part of the gateway scheme there is an arrangement with the local authorities in question to provide permanent employment within the local authority for participants completing the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17672/17]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Gateway is a work scheme which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than 24 months while, at the same time, carrying out beneficial work identified by Local Authorities.

Gateway participants work for an average of 19½ hours a week and placements last for 22 months and cannot be extended. My Department has no input into the regular Local Authority recruitment process.

The person concerned commenced employment on Gateway on 10 August, 2015 and will be due to complete their 22 months contract in June 2017. A person cannot go directly from a Gateway scheme to Community Employment (CE) or a Tús scheme. In order to qualify for CE or Tús after participating on Gateway, a person must be fully unemployed and in receipt of a jobseekers payment continuously for at least a year. Time spent on Gateway does not count towards CE or Tús eligibility.

If the person concerned is unsuccessful in finding full-time work after their engagement on Gateway, they should contact their local Intreo Office and make an appointment with a case officer to discuss their training needs or other activation options. Their entitlement to a jobseeker’s payment will also be determined.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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