Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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443. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 26 years of age who have applied for and been eligible for the JobsPlus scheme since its introduction, by county, in tabular form [33514/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from the Live Register and those transitioning into employment. It provides employers with 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 is unemployed.

The number of persons under 26 years of age who have applied for and been eligible for JobsPlus since the scheme began, by county, is shown in the following table.

Table 1: JobsPlus applicants under 26 years of age who have established eligibility - (July 2013-July 2017)

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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444. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out an analysis or evaluation of the JobsPlus scheme to ascertain if employers subsidised under the scheme have retained staff in the period after the subsidy is withdrawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33515/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, 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 employment. It provides employers with 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 employed has been on the Live Register.

My Department is currently undertaking a Focused Policy Assessment (FPA) on the incentive. As part of this assessment, an analysis of a sample of JobsPlus employees was conducted between 30 and 36 months after their commencement date on the scheme. This analysis has shown that for employees who complete 24 months on the scheme, 79% remain with their current employer and 95% remain off the Live Register. The FPA will be finalised over the coming weeks.

I consider this a very favourable result and I believe it demonstrates the positive effect that JobsPlus has in getting people who are long-term unemployed into work.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.