Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
1026. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the most recent period for which data is available on the back to education allowance, on the Work Placement Programme, on JobsPlus, on the Jobs Initiative, on the back to work enterprise allowance, and on the training support grant; and if there are any evaluations conducted which might lead to revisions in the terms of these schemes. [35832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe participant numbers requested by the Deputy for the different schemes are set out below.
The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at further or higher level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people improve their qualifications and as a result improve their access to sustainable employment. Scheme activity is aligned with the academic year with applications currently being processed for the new academic year. Some 3,500 people claimed the Back to Education Allowance during the 2023/2024 academic year.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a 6-month, 30 hour per week voluntary work and training experience programme. As of 31st August 2024, there were 153 participants active on WPEP placements. Since the inception of the Programme on 12th July 2021, 713 participants have completed a placement. Following an internal review of the programme in 2023, a number of positive changes have been made to widen the eligibility criteria for participants, thus increasing the opportunities for jobseekers who are most distant to the labour market to gain valuable work experience in a supportive workplace.
The Job Initiative scheme is a programme providing full-time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of social welfare payments over that period. The scheme was closed in late 2004, there is currently no recruitment onto the scheme while existing participants will have their contracts renewed. As of 31st August 2024, there were 308 participants and 20 supervisors on the Job Initiative scheme.
JobsPlus is an employer incentive which provides payments to employers who offer employment opportunities to the long term unemployed, young unemployed and other identified groups. It provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers over two years, with two levels of grant payable - €7,500 or €10,000 provided that the employment is maintained. The level of payment depends on the age of the person and the period of unemployed. In the year to 31st August 2024, there have been payments made to 758 employers to support 906 JobsPlus employments.
Changes to JobsPlus were implemented from January 2023 to expand eligibility for the scheme and to meet commitments in the Pathways to Work strategy. From October 2024, JobsPlus will be amended to make it more attractive to employers. The timeline for the payment of the subsidy is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. The €10,000 subsidy rate will be payable in respect of people who are 24 months unemployed, down from 36 months.
The Training Support Grant provides quick access to short-term training to support jobseekers access work opportunities. The grant is used to meet a skills gap or training need where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time, and in cases where an intervention is needed to access a work opportunity. In the year to 31st August 2024, there have been 3,442 Training Support Grants completed.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are interested in self-employment as a route to re-entering the labour market. The allowance is payable at 100% of the primary payment for year 1, reducing to 75% for year 2. As of 31st August 2024, there are 1,929 participants on the BTWEA scheme.
Pathways to Work (2021-2025) is the Government's national employment services strategy. An updated Pathways strategy of 65 commitments and 28 KPIs was published in May 2024, following approval by Government. It was informed by a mid-term review which was undertaken last year, in line with strategy commitments and with the support of the Labour Market Advisory Council. The updated strategy includes a new commitment (number 55) to undertake a review of the eligibility criteria for employment support schemes in order to facilitate an accessible pathway to employment for priority groups. Further changes to these schemes will be considered following the completion of this review.
I trust this clarifies the position.
