My Department regularly reviews unemployment supports and activation measures to ensure participants are supported by effective, evidence-based policies that provide value for public finances. A number of evaluations and research on supports offered by the Department are in progress.
My Department regularly commissions research for, and publishes, Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Reports for Intreo and Intreo Partners (National Employment Service and Local Area Employment Services).
In 2025 the Department engaged the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) to carry out a qualitative research project into Unemployed People’s Experience of the Intreo Partners LAES. The INOU’s report is being drafted.
A review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme was published in August 2024. Its findings were used to revise the scheme guidelines, including reducing required minimum hours from 21 to 15 hours, and expanding eligibility.
In July 2024, the Department completed and published a review of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), launched by the then Minister of State. The review examined the role, relevance, governance and resourcing of the scheme. It was informed by extensive consultation with participants, implementing bodies, stakeholders and other Departments. The final report, which is publicly available, made 19 recommendations, several of which have been implemented with further measures progressed through Budget 2026.
The OECD published an impact evaluation of Ireland’s active labour market programmes for long-term unemployed people. The publication, ‘Impact evaluation of Ireland’s Active Labour Market Policies’ was launched on 13th March 2024.
The evaluation was carried out by the OECD in partnership with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and staff from my Department. It found positive labour market impacts for both the Community Employment and Tús programmes. The main findings of the impact evaluation demonstrated CE and Tús having a positive impact on employment and the earnings of scheme participants in the longer term.
The evaluation made several recommendations on how the Department can adapt these programmes to better support participants. These recommendations are under consideration in the development of the Department’s upcoming Pathways to Work strategy.
An evaluation of the Lone Parents Digital Activation Project was commissioned in 2024 and is ongoing.
In 2024 the Department commissioned a quantitative analysis of the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (LAES). The review is ongoing.
A review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness Support Scheme was published in August 2023. It made recommendations to merge the schemes, and the new Work and Access scheme was launched in 2024.
An Evaluation of Back to Work Family Dividend commenced in late 2023 and is being finalised.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
