Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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227. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the employers' PRSI incentive schemes that exist to encourage employers to take on new employees; and the cost of these in a full year. [39256/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is advised that the employers’ PRSI exemption scheme was replaced by the JobsPlus Scheme on 1 July 2013.

JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees who are long-term on the live register and transitioning into employment. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 and €10,000.

The €7,500 is paid primarily to those who are 12 months or more on the live register with the higher grant paid in respect of those who have been unemployed for more than 24 months. The incentive is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.

There is currently sanction for up to 6,000 employments to be supported through JobsPlus, with a projected expenditure estimate of €30 million for 2018.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.