Two new Government programmes, specifically devised to help young people gain employment, have been launched today. First Steps and JobsPlus Youth, which are expected to benefit 3,500 young job seekers in 2015, were launched by Tanaiste Joan Burton and Junior Minister for Activation, Kevin Humphreys.
'I am delighted with the launch of the two new activation programmes, which will benefit the lives of thousands of young people at a vulnerable and crucial juncture in their lives, as they begin the journey of their professional development.
“JobsPlus Youth and First Steps will give a step-up to young people who are searching for a job and help them to up skill and gain valuable training to climb the important first steps of the employment ladder, in a supported way. Being unemployed for any length of time can become a disheartening and demoralising experience for people, which the Government recognises. Gaining training and support in a working environment has been and continues to be an important lifeline that many young people need, to restore their confidence, to teach them skills and to ultimately give them a future.
“I am delighted to see the launch of these new activation schemes, which demonstrates the Government's commitment to help unemployed people and to address youth unemployment as an urgent priority. In particular, the requirement that a young person has to be unemployed for a minimum period of four months (instead of twelve months) is a very welcome development since the programme aims to help young people get back to work quicker and to intervene at an earlier time for them, which is progressive. This means, faster access to training and development for vulnerable young people, which will make the difficult jobhunt process, that bit easier for them.”
"I look forward to additional funding and investment from the Department of Social Protection to help people who are unemployed and to further engagement with Minister Humphreys and Tanaiste Burton, to work together to help and support people return to work."
First Steps
First Steps will help young jobseekers aged between 18 and 25 years to gain valuable work experience and training. Each placement will last between six and nine months as part of a four week programme, which allows jobseekers use the fifth day to job search. Participants in this programme, will receive an additional €50 per week in addition to any existing social welfare entitlements that they are in receipt of.
The Government target is to provide up to 2,000 work experience placements for young jobseekers during 2015, with placements beginning in April 2015. Employers can register their interest in offering a First Steps placement by emailing firststeps@welfare.ie
JobsPlus Youth
JobsPlus Youth, an expansion of the JobsPlus employer incentive scheme, is expected to support 1,500 young jobseekers (under 25s) return to work this year. The qualifying period for employing young people has been reduced from 12 months to four months.
The JobsPlus incentive is payable on a monthly basis over a two-year period and provides two levels of payment; a payment of €7,500 over two years to the employer for each person recruited, who has been unemployed between 12 and 24 months, which amounts to €312 a month; a payment of €10,000 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months, which amounts to €416 a month.
Since the launch of JobsPlus in 2013, almost 4,000 people have returned to work, including three out of five people who had previously been unemployed for two years or more.
The JobsPlus Youth programme is now open and employers can register their interest at www.jobsplus.ie
