Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
31. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently recorded as long-term unemployed; the measures in place to support their return to sustainable and secure employment; the further actions to reduce long-term unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45625/26]
View answerThe most recent CSO Labour Force Survey indicates that 41,300 individuals were classified as long-term unemployed in Q1 2026, corresponding to a long-term unemployment rate of 1.4%. It is important to note that this group is not static, as it is constantly changing with individuals leaving long-term unemployment for employment and others entering it.
My Department, through its Public Employment Service—delivered via its Intreo centres and Intreo Partners—provides a comprehensive suite of supports to assist the unemployed including the long-term unemployed in securing work. These services, together with a labour market that continues to perform well, enables both short-term and long-term unemployed individuals to consistently secure employment and this accounts for the constant churn in the numbers of individuals experiencing long term unemployment.
Jobseekers on the Live Register engage with Intreo via Employment Personal Advisors and Job Coaches in the first 12 months. Beyond this, they are referred firstly to the Intreo Partner National Employment Service, which provides intensive jobseeker support, and the standard period of engagement is fifty-two weeks
After 24 months, jobseekers are referred to the Intreo Partner Local Area Employment Service, which is designed to engage with those with greater barriers to the labour market. Jobseekers are referred to the most appropriate service at each point in time on their job seeking journey.
There are a number of schemes available to the long-term unemployed to keep them close to the labour market, boost their skills and confidence and increase their employability.
Community Employment (CE) is an employment scheme targeted at long-term unemployed jobseekers, which provides them with work experience and training opportunities in their local communities.
The schemes are delivered by local sponsoring organisations who are the employers. Participants work 19.5 hours per week and can avail of training and upskilling opportunities while delivering valuable services to their community.
Recognising the role employers play in addressing long-term unemployment, JobsPlus is an employer subsidy of up to €10,000, available to employers who hire a jobseeker from the Live Register. The higher rate of €10,000 is payable when hiring a jobseeker under 50 who has been in receipt of a qualifying payment for 24 months in the previous 30 months.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a six-month work placement programme aimed at keeping jobseekers close to the labour market and breaking the cycle of ‘no work, no experience’. Participants work 30 hours per week and are expected to complete sixty hours of training, including accredited or sector-specific training.
My Department is developing the successor strategy to Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which will focus on developing a public employment service that can serve all jobseekers, especially those facing additional barriers to employment such as the long-term unemployed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
