Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the job placement types that will be encompassed under the youth employment support scheme proposed in Budget 2018. [2049/18]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the youth employment support scheme will be introduced; and the specific skill benefits it will provide. [2050/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 33 together.

The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) is a new scheme that I intend to introduce in May/June of this year.

The scheme will be targeted at young people aged 18 to 24 who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment – people who even in the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foot on the career ladder.

The aim is to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will complement and sit alongside other opportunities developed by the Department of Education and Skills, such as the new Career Traineeships and Apprenticeships, and will broaden the choice available to young people.

The qualifying payments are Jobseekers’ Payments, One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker Transition Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Person’s Pension or Supplementary Welfare Allowance. In some cases, candidates who have been in receipt of a payment for less than 12 months, but who are considered by a case worker to face significant barriers to work will be granted access to the scheme.

Young people, like other groups vary in terms of skills, aptitudes, and background so the scheme will aim to offer them a wide variety of work experience options to meet their particular needs.

The scheme will be open to employers across the private, community and voluntary sectors who meet the eligibility criteria. Public sector organisations will be excluded.

The range of skills that a participant may acquire will be dependent on the type of placement offered and the skills level of the person on commencement.

A Learning and Development Plan will be at the core of each placement and progress will be supported and monitored by a case worker in my Department on an ongoing basis.

Apart from relevant ‘hard’ or specific skills, there will be a focus on the acquisition and demonstration of ‘soft’ employability skills that will improve the participant’s employment prospects, such as interpersonal and communication skills, teamwork, punctuality, time management, and customer service. Onsite work experience can be complemented by off-site training, as appropriate.

The key determinant will be whether the placement can provide a meaningful learning and development opportunity for the potential candidate.

The Host Organisation will complete an assessment for the participant at the end of the placement. Employers will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well, and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth.