The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection has announced the launch of the Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS).
YESS is a new work experience scheme targeted exclusively at young jobseekers who are either long-term unemployed or face significant barriers to employment.
Work placements will be of three months duration with participants engaging in 24 hours work experience over per week (over three to four days).
Participation on the scheme will be wholly voluntary and participants will receive an allowance of €229.20 per week for the duration of their placement.
Commenting at the launch of the scheme, Minister Regina Doherty said “I am very pleased to announce the launch of the Youth Employment Support Scheme. Although unemployment figures have fallen, youth unemployment remains a concern.
“The new scheme, along with many other employment support measures, demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to helping our young people break the vicious cycle of ‘no experience – no work or no work – no experience’. The scheme will provide young people with the opportunity to learn important work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement, thereby helping them to increase their employment prospects.”
YESS commences on 1 October 2018. Young people wishing to engage in this scheme can find more information at www.welfare.ie or by calling their local Intreo Centre.
Employers who wish to offer a YESS placement can do so by going to the Jobs Ireland website www.jobsireland.ie or by contacting the Jobs Ireland National Contact Centre on 1890 800024.
Background
What are the qualifying conditions for the scheme?
The programme will be available to jobseekers and other eligible cohorts who are:
aged between 18 and 24 and have been out of work and in receipt of a qualifying payment for at least 12 months, or if unemployed for less than 12 months, be considered by a case officer to face a significant barrier to work.
People in receipt of any of the following payments will be eligible to participate in the scheme; Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker Transition Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Person’s Pension or Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Are all employers eligible to take part?
The scheme will be open to employers in the private, community and voluntary sectors only.
How long will a placement last?
Each placement will be of 3 months duration. A placement may be extended to six months on the approval of a case officer.
How will the scheme be monitored?
Each placement will have an assigned case officer who will monitor and evaluate the progress of the placement.
How is the scheme being funded?
The European Commission is providing co-funding to this scheme. The scheme is being backed jointly by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on an equal funding basis.
