Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consideration that has been given to bringing the job initiative rate of payment in line with the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10230/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme which was designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. Recruitment onto the scheme ceased from November 2004.

The Department funds wages for JI team leaders and JI participants along with a grant contribution towards the running costs of the scheme in respect of administration, materials, overheads, training and development. The Department is not the employer of JI team leaders or of participants.

Participants on JI are employed full time for 39 hours per week. The current rate for JI participants is €495 per week which breaks down to €12.69 per hour which is above the minimum wage of €11.30 per hour (from January 2023).

The JI rate benefits from any budgetary increase in the relevant social welfare payments along with any increase in the top up payment for participants on employment support schemes. The 2023 budget increases, effective from January increased the JI weekly rate from €461 to €495, when the increase in weekly social welfare payment rates and the increase in the top up payment are taken into account. It is also worth noting that the JI rate has increased by €75 per week since 2016.

In addition, JI participants also receive social welfare benefits such as the annual Christmas Bonus and also received the Autumn Cost of Living double week payment in October 2022.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.