Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Employment Schemes

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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976.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in the interest of fairness and equality, she will review the waiting period for Irish nationals in receipt of a qualifying welfare payment to be eligible for the JobsPlus scheme compared to those who have refugee status also in receipt of a qualifying payment who are not subject to any waiting period which allows employers with an immediate need to recruit such a person from the latter group and draw down the €7,500 grant per employee over two years from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34890/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The JobsPlus scheme is a financial incentive for employers. It supports them to focus their recruitment on those who are out of work for long periods, on young unemployed people, and those from disadvantaged and minority groups. The Government has provided €4.9 million for the scheme in 2024. The JobsPlus scheme receives EU co-funding under ESF+ for participants under the age of 30.

The scheme currently provides a direct monthly payment to employers over two years, with two levels of grant payable - €7,500 or €10,000 provided that the employment is maintained. The JobsPlus scheme is kept under review. The Government recently agreed changes to the scheme which will be implemented later this year. These are that the incentive will be paid over 18 months instead of 2 years while maintaining the level of the grant, and that the higher level of grant will be paid in respect of long term unemployed people after 24 months rather than 36 months.

People claiming Jobseeker’s payments, Disability Allowance and Blind pension are eligible under the JobsPlus scheme. The nationality of the claimant is not considered as part of the assessment process. The period of unemployment and age of the claimant determine the level of payment that may be made to an employer.

The scheme structure reflects Government’s commitments as set out in the Pathways to Work Strategy. This includes a focus on encouraging the employment of older workers, of providing early access to the scheme for those aged under 30 years and providing the higher level of payment to employers who recruit an unemployed person from certain disadvantaged and minority groups.

Where a person who is in receipt of a qualifying payment has refugee status there is no qualifying period. This recognises that there may be barriers to accessing employment for people in this group.

Ukrainians who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and are receiving a qualifying payment are considered in the same way as other JobsPlus applicants in terms of qualifying periods to access the JobsPlus scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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