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Cash boost for businesses who help young people get back to work

Joan Burton said businesses and jobseekers can avail of financial supports under two new initiatives.

EMPLOYERS IN KERRY should give young people a chance to get back to work, according to the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton.

She called on businesses in the area to consider taking part in two new programmes aimed at unemployed young people.

According to the latest Live Register figures for January 2015, there are 5,439 people under 25 unemployed in the south west region.

Back to work schemes

Burton said businesses and jobseekers can avail of financial supports under two new initiatives.

She said the government has worked to reduce youth unemployment from 31% in 2012 to 21.6% at end of 2014.

“But that is still far too high,” said Burton.

… Others still find it hard to take that first step onto the employment ladder. The purpose of First Steps and JobsPlus Youth is to give them that opportunity.

The First Steps programme offers young people between 18 and 25 work experience and training.

Work experience

Burton said the target is to provide up to 2,000 work experience placements of six or nine months during 2015.

JobsPlus Youth programme is an expansion of the JobsPlus employer incentive scheme. It gives employers cash payments to assist with wage costs when they hire young people from the Live Register.

It is expected to support 1,500 young jobseekers return to work this year, on a national level.

Up to the end of January, 148 jobseekers and 113 companies in Kerry have availed of the scheme.

I strongly urge all employers, local businesses and entrepreneurs to engage with officials from my Department based in Tralee and other towns of Kerry.In particular, I would ask you to look at the possibility of offering apprenticeships and traineeships to your young people.

Not only will the young men and women gain a skill in an area they have a particular interest in but they will continue that thread of tradition, creativity and workmanship that makes Ireland unique.

Read: Vodafone lost 278 customers A DAY in 2014>

Read: Over 100 jobs created at two new service stations in Dublin and Laois>

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16 Comments
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    Mute Pearse Connolly Ireland
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:10 PM

    Joan Burton has some cheek, young people should get out of this hell hole of a country while they are able, they should emigrate to a country where their hard work will be rewarded.

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    Mute Declan Gartlan
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    Feb 7th 2015, 10:35 AM

    I’d say you would know a lot about hard work

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:39 PM

    Don’t mind you’re clap trap Joan. Stop screwing the S.M.E.s and something real might happen.

    74
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    Mute jack frost
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:38 PM

    Yeh…and lots of red tape to get through first. .smoke n mirrors .!!

    60
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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:37 PM

    I smell cheap labour for the boys._.Joan ure an embarrassment to the people of ireland

    73
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Feb 6th 2015, 11:26 PM

    Real jobs should to be created. The Government should be creating jobs in the civil and public sector.

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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:23 PM

    Smells like more scambridge to me

    52
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    Mute Symbolism
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:52 PM

    And for every young person who gets a job there’s a bonus of a share of the 214 billion national debt, which you can pay off till you retire. And then from your pension.

    49
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    Mute WP
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:51 PM

    Churnalism vs Journalism:

    When publishing articles based on government press releases, it’s useful to include critical voices on the other side of the argument – particularly when programmes like Jobs Bridge have already found to be exploitative in multiple instances.

    Here’s a press release with a different analysis from Paul Murphy TD – https://www.facebook.com/paulmurphytd/posts/775446739210402

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:09 PM

    Was a reaction looked for from: The Asthma Society of Irealnd; the GAA; the IRFU; the FAI; Cricket Ireland, The IFA, Cumann na mBan, Macra na Tuaithe; Ash Ireland; the Vincent de Paul, the RNLI, the ALU; the COI, Baptists; Presbyterians; Lutherans; The Church of the Latter Day Saints; The Irish Botanical Society; The Irish Parachute Club; Equity Ireland; The Irish Hunting Association, The Irish Chess Union; Photography Ireland or the Irish Witchcraft and Demonology Association, the Tuatha de Danann Continuity Movement? No. I thought so. This is what you expect from this fascist government.

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    Mute WP
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:44 PM

    Do any of those have a public record of exposing the exploitation of young people on ‘job activation’ schemes?

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:58 PM

    None of them are answering their phones at the moment. Probably the kind of people who only answer the phones during office hours. No wonder the country is in such a state.

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    Mute mrgillhouley
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    Feb 6th 2015, 6:27 PM

    great initiative, well done

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    Mute get up your goat
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    Feb 6th 2015, 9:38 PM

    Yes please employers give jobs….
    What’s done to help hard working self employed when misfortune happens them and have to close…… No dole no help…. Jesus this government really piss me off… So outa touch

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    Mute Damien Moran
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    Feb 6th 2015, 7:24 PM

    what is this attitude fro the elders these days? we are giving you something, be happy. they can go and f themselves

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    Mute Al Ca
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    Feb 6th 2015, 9:12 PM

    Labour = Labour camps.

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