Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeframe and details of the proposed new work placement scheme including the proposed level of remuneration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35163/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The July Jobs Stimulus set out the Government investment plan of €200m investment towards training, education, skill development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and job search and assistance measures; these measures aim to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors.

Building on the July Jobs Stimulus, the Economic Recovery Plan provides for a funded work placement scheme to provide work experience for 10,000 jobseekers for six months, for jobseekers unemployed for more than six months. Time spent on the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will contribute towards eligibility. This work experience programme will provide valuable work and development opportunities to persons whose employment has been adversely affected by COVID and to those who were unemployed prior to the pandemic. In addition to work experience, this programme will provide innovative learning and development opportunities for participants.

This initiative builds on advice from the Labour Market Advisory Council that such placements have the capacity to keep unemployed people close to the labour market and provide them with quality work experience to increase their employability.

I am pleased to advise that I will be bringing details of the new work placement experience programme, to Government for approval in the near future. This will include final approval for the payment rate for participants. I intend to launch the programme shortly thereafter.