Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

JobsPlus Scheme

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to enhance the JobsPlus scheme to target older unemployed and long-term unemployed persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8413/18]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The JobsPlus scheme, since its introduction in 2013, has provided a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who are long term on the live register and those transitioning into employment. My Department pays the incentive to employers monthly in arrears over a two-year period. It provides employers with two levels of payment, €7,500 and €10,000, depending on the length of time the recruited employee has been unemployed. The Scheme has proved to be effective in meeting its initial objectives. I was keen, however, to ensure that the JobsPlus scheme would have a particular focus on addressing the position of older unemployed people and the very long-term unemployed. In this regard, I was struck by the findings of a recent review of JobsPlus, conducted by my Department, which showed that workers over 50 years of age were under-represented on the scheme. Consequently, as part of budget 2018, I announced key new measures which came into effect on the 1st January 2018 and which provide a new focus for the scheme. Firstly, jobseekers aged over 50 years will qualify for the higher €10,000 incentive rate after 12 months on the live register, down from 24 months.

Secondly, for jobseekers aged less than 50 years, the qualifying period for receipt of the higher incentive rate of €10,000 has been increased from 24 months on the live register to 36 months. For this cohort, the qualifying period for the €7,500 incentive rate remains at 12 months.

As I say, I have introduced these measures to encourage employers to focus their recruitment efforts on older workers and on those who are long-term unemployed.

For those under the age of 25, the qualifying period for the €7,500 incentive rate remains at 4 months.

The incentive will continue to be paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.

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