Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of spending of the €200 million investment in training and education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and job search assistance measures; the amount that will be directed to the 35,000 additional places in further and higher education and the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19536/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the publication of the July Jobs Stimulus which will build on existing supports to get Ireland's businesses back on their feet and as many people as possible back to work quickly.

As part of this effort, my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation, Research and Science will deliver a €200m package of income, employment and training supports to help people maintain a strong income support and access new job opportunities.  This package of supports is in addition to €12m in Enterprise Support Grants that I announced in June to support self-employed micro-enterprise. Details of these measures and estimated expenditure is detailed in the following table.

Detail of Measure 2020 2021 Total
Skills to Compete: This programme is tailored toward those who have lost jobs as a result of Covid 19 and targeted at emerging growth areas and occupations. €37m - €37m
Skillnet: Broadly similar to existing Skillnet interventions as well as a blend of other outreach/recruitment, career advice, upskilling and mandatory work placement. €3m - €3m
Apprenticeship Incentivisation scheme: This is a time-limited incentive scheme designed to incentivise employers to take on apprentices. Employers would receive €2k up-front per apprentice and a further €1k after 12 months if apprentice is still on their books. €12m - €12m
Retrofit Skills training to support the expansion of a National Retrofitting Programme. €0.5m - €0.5m
Springboard+ and HCI Pillar (1,500 places)  HCI and Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) €10m - €10m
Postgraduate Skills Provision: create additional places across the full range of existing part-time and full-time postgraduate taught programmes €22.5m - €22.5m
Modular Skills Provision:  shorter, more focused courses that can be offered in a flexible manner and could allow people to gain important skills without taking a considerable period away from the labour market. €15m - €15m
Work Placement and Experience Programme:  Work placement programme for jobseekers unemployed for over 6 months. Estimated 10,000 places €10m €20m €30m
Short Term Specific Skills Training:  Extend the Training Support Grant (Estimated recipients 12,500) €1m €7m €8m
Job Search Advice and Assistance:  Increase Public Employment Service (PES) staff capacity across INTREO system. €13m €30m €43m
Enhance Recruitment Subsidies:  JobsPlus- increase the ‘youth’ age limit from 25 to 30 years of age (with a 6 month duration of unemployment) with a subsidy of €7,500 payable over 2 years. €3m €4m €7m
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance: Additional provision to support jobseekers establish self-employment opportunities:  €2m €3m €5m
Back to Education Allowance:  access to the BTEA scheme extended to PUP recipients in light of the timing of the 2020/21 academic year:  Estimated €1m €4m €5m
State Employment Schemes:  Additional provision on community employment and TUS schemes.  €0.2m €1.8m €2m
Total New Measures €130.2 €69.8m €200m
Enterprise Support Grants via Department of Social Protection for self-employed micro-enterprise (already announced in June 2020).  Estimated 12,000 recipients. €12m - €12m
Total Stimulus Package €142.2 €69.8m €212m

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