Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the JobsPlus scheme applies to solicitor apprentices; if not, if it can be extended to them to allow solicitors to take them on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11601/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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JobsPlus is an active labour market scheme designed to encourage employers and businesses to provide eligible long term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons including young people seeking work with an opportunity to engage in employment. It provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers over two years, with two levels of grant payable - €7,500 or €10,000 provided that the employment is maintained.

A qualifying condition of the scheme is that employers, including solicitors, must be filling new positions or vacancies that arise as a consequence of natural turnover such as retirements. The JobsPlus incentive is not open to persons on apprenticeships, in work training or work experience.

The case referred to by the Deputy was refused as the applicant had indicated on the application form that the position is an apprenticeship.

I trust this clarifies the matter.