Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
439. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the uptake of back to work enterprise allowance, community employment, and other activation programmes in County Laois; and the steps being taken to increase participation among long-term unemployed individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3140/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to supporting jobseekers and in particular, long term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market as they take steps towards sustainable employment.
Intreo provide nationwide support to jobseekers through a structured and mandatory engagement process that offers tailored, individualised employment support. Jobseekers on the live register engage with Intreo Employment Services in the first 12 months. Where a jobseeker remains on the live register after this period, they are referred firstly to the National Employment Service and after 24 months to the Local Area Employment Service, which is designed to engage with those with greater barriers to the labour market. Therefore, the jobseeker is referred to the most appropriate service at each point in time on their job seeking journey.
Intreo Employment Services and Intreo Partners offer an individualised employment service to jobseekers. Employment Services Officers engage with jobseekers on a one-to-one basis to develop a Personal Progression Plan, which will identify steps the jobseeker can take to support them to progress to sustainable employment. These plans can include referrals to suitable employment opportunities, training, work placement, education, or support with self-employment.
There are a wide range of employment supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements as well as programmes like the Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP), Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) to support people to obtain or retain employment. Currently over 400 people are participating in these programmes in Laois.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance 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 with approximately currently 30 participants availing of this scheme in Co Laois.
Intreo Employment Service work closely with employers in Co Laois and across the country to improve the employment outcomes for long-term unemployed people in accessing the labour market.
Finally, the Pathways to Work Strategy sets out the Department of Social Protections vision for an inclusive and sustainable labour market, where people of working age who can work are supported to do so, and where employers are supported to access the skilled workers they need to grow, in an evolving economy.
Building on the success of the previous strategy, the next strategy will seek to support quality employment and inclusion for all. A distinct focus on people who are furthest from the labour market, experiencing multiple barriers to participation will be at the forefront of this strategy and will seek to ensure that all people can benefit from Ireland's well performing economy.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
