JUST 270 PLACES have been taken up on the government’s Gateway scheme, the Social Protection Minister has revealed.

Joan Burton was answering a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea about the scheme.

The Gateway scheme works by having the long-term unemployed put in one of 3,000 placements in local authorities.

There, they will work on average 19.5 hours a week for €20 extra on top of their dole payment, subject to a minimum payment of €208 per week.

In her response, Burton revealed that just 270 people had taken up the placements, with another 469 awaiting approval.

“The councils have been tasked with starting this cohort within the next few weeks. I expect placements to accelerate thereafter, with the aim of the councils employing 3,000 jobseekers by the end of the year.

“Responsibility for the recruitment of jobseekers and identifying work opportunities rests with individual councils.”

Burton also revealed that there had been €2 million made available for the scheme in recent weeks. This includes money being paid to council staff to supervise Gateway workers.

“To further support the recruitment process, the Department has recently put arrangements in place for jobseekers meeting the criteria to apply to the Department or councils for participation on Gateway and for Departmental case officers to nominate suitable candidates for recruitment.

“The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has also sanctioned 150 acting-up allowances for existing local authority staff to support the supervision of Gateway. Additionally, that Department has provided €2 million to offset the costs of health and safety, training for specified tasks and personal protective equipment.”

Burton went on to say that she believed the scheme was a “positive” one.

“The ambition of the Government is that Gateway will build on these positive initiatives using the quality working environment, resources and opportunities available to county and city councils enabling the long-term unemployed to make a positive contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for future prospective employment.”

Read: Less than €2 extra per week for unemployed parents on Gateway scheme