Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is giving consideration to or is requesting her Government colleagues to consider allowing persons on various back-to-work schemes, employment schemes and other schemes to work a greater number of hours to entice them to remain in the workforce and provide for the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34918/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Irish labour market has experienced a robust recovery, post-Covid. According to the latest CSO estimates, employment is now above 2.5 million, the highest level in the history of the State; the unemployment rate is now below its pre-pandemic level at 4.7 percent. Furthermore, participation rates in the economy continue to be above where they stood pre-pandemic.

My Department, which delivers public employment services through Intreo and its contracted partners, offers a range of employment supports including back to work schemes, employment schemes and other employer incentives to help jobseekers prepare for and secure employment.   

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long term unemployed and entering the labour market through self-employment.  The scheme is payable for up to a 24 month period with no restriction on the number of hours worked. 

The Jobseeker’s payments are paid to people who are unemployed for a minimum of 4 days in a 7 day period. A person can generally work up to 3 days and still receive a payment. It is a requirement under the scheme that recipients are genuinely seeking to increase their level of employment.

The Working Family Payment is a weekly, tax-free payment available to employees with children. It gives extra financial support to families with children with rates depending on their incomes and family size. Under this scheme a person must be employed for at least 38 hours per fortnight which is a minimum requirement.

JobsPlus is a subsidy paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. The job offered must be a full-time position of at least 30 hours per week.

My department operates also a number of employment support schemes which assist communities across the country including Community Employment (CE),  Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Tús.  Participants on these employment support schemes are contracted to work 19.5 hours per week.

It is a key priority to encourage people back into employment and supports are kept under review in the context of the overall improving labour market and commitments under the Pathways to Work Strategy.  

I trust this clarifies my position.