Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1008. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider reducing the duration of the unemployment test for JobsPlus to allow speedier integration of persons displaced and give employers a break during a difficult recovery period in view of the difficult labour market conditions. [15190/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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JobsPlus is a subsidy paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. Employers can avail of JobsPlus when filling new positions or positions that arise as a consequence of natural turnover and receive a subsidy of €7,500 or €10,000 per employee. The value of the grant is dependent on the age of the new employee and their duration of unemployment, over a two-year period of employment.

JobsPlus is an effective scheme in responding to unemployment. An evaluation of the scheme, undertaken jointly by the EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Department of Social Protection published in 2020, found a positive impact equivalent to a 57% reduction in the likelihood of unemployment for people who benefited from JobsPlus. 

Dealing with Covid-19 presents a particular challenge to economic activity and, consequently, to employment levels. In last year’s July Jobs Stimulus, the capacity of JobsPlus was increased to 8,000 places. The qualification criteria for those under 30 years was amended, meaning they can now avail of the support after 4 months, having previously been 12 months. Time spent in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be counted for the purposes of eligibility for all unemployed individuals.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.