Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Labour Activation Measures

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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660. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans or those of her Department with regard to so-called activation measures such as JobPath (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21883/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of the July jobs stimulus, the Government committed to increase the capacity of all elements of the Public Employment Service. My Department now intends to shortly issue a Request for Tender (RFT) to expand local employment type services into some geographical areas where a Local Employment Service does not currently exist. My Department is preparing to ensure that the Public Employment Service has sufficient capacity in 2022 to support all those who need our assistance and help in securing new employment.

Separately under the July jobs stimulus, my Department, in cooperation with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is putting in place a number of measures.

We are increasing the value of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy for employers who hire young people and the Government is enhancing access to education and training with an additional 35,000 new education and training places for the unemployed.

Additional incentives are being provided to employers to take on more apprentices, with the provision of a grant of €3,000 to employers for each new apprentice recruited. My Department is also facilitating access to the Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to those displaced by the pandemic and in receipt of PUP, by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months.

These and other efforts will be bolstered by the Pathways to Work 2021-2025 strategy, currently being finalised by my Department.  This whole-of-Government strategy will seek to build upon those support measures outlined above as we assist people on their journey to work. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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