John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1235. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new youth employment support scheme will be aimed at young persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46422/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) is a new work experience programme targeted at young people who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment – people who even during the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foothold on the career ladder. The programme aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement.

The scheme is not aimed exclusively at people with disabilities, but it will be open to them to apply. To qualify for participation, a person must be aged between 18 and 24 and have been out of work and in receipt of a qualifying payment for at least 12 months or, if unemployed for less than 12 months, be considered by a case worker to face a significant barrier to getting work.

Candidates must be in receipt of one of the following qualifying payments: Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker Transition Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Person’s Pension or Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

The new scheme will be launched in Q2/2018. YESS placements will be publicly advertised and people interested in participating will be advised to contact their local Intreo Centre. Participation will be entirely voluntary.