Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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468. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to increase the rate of pay for those working on jobs initiative schemes in light of significant increases in the cost of living, given that most of these workers are doing substantial work in their communities and are struggling to make ends meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23082/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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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.

Participants on JI are employed full time for 39 hours per week. The current rate for JI participants is €495 per week. 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 and the recent Spring Cost of Living Bonus payment of €200. JI participants in receipt of Child Benefit for dependant children will also receive the Cost of Living Bonus payment of €100 in June 2023. The JI rate will continue to benefit from any increases introduced as part of the annual budgetary process.

There are currently 394 participants on JI. Recruitment to the JI scheme closed in November 2004.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.