Alex White TD Welcomes New Initiatives for Unemployed

Minister of State, Alex White TD has welcomed the Government launch of the JobsPlus initiative which will incentivise employers with up to €10,000, if they employ a person who is long term unemployed.

“Government is listening to business owners and employers and is finding new ways to encourage the recruitment of the unemployed. We want to remove the barriers that exist to get people back to work. We cannot underestimate the corrosive impact of unemployment – it’s the biggest challenge facing our community.

“With this simple scheme, employers can access up to €10,000 for a qualifying recruit, payable on a monthly basis over a two year period. Both employers and employees can register for the JobsPlus scheme by registering online atwww.jobsplus.ie. 197,508 people in Ireland are currently eligible for this scheme which is designed to help them get off social welfare and back into work.”

This welcome announcement came in the final days of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council, where Ireland and its European partners committed to providing €6 billion to help combat youth unemployment across Europe and in Ireland through the Youth Guarantee.

Minister White said: “These funds will be spent to implement the Youth Guarantee. This Guarantee will offer a young person from 2014 quality employment, training, an apprenticeship or further education within four months of finishing their education or becoming unemployed.”