176. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative, by county, since the introduction of the initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25975/15]

177. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who have qualified for the JobsPlus initiative under the revised criteria since January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25976/15]

178. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons under 25 years of age who currently qualify for the JobsPlus initiative on the basis that they meet the four-month criteria, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25977/15]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together.

The JobsPlus incentive is designed to encourage employers and businesses to focus their recruitment efforts on those who have been out of work for long periods or on young people seeking work. JobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers in the form of a monthly grant paid over two years with two levels of grant payable-€7,500 or €10,000 provided the employment is maintained. The level of payment depends on the length of time the person is unemployed.

Eligibility was broadened in 2015 to include young jobseekers (under 25s) unemployed for four months or more in the previous 6 months, jobseekers transitioning from a one parent family payment (OFP) and former OFP customers whose youngest child is 14 years of age or over who are currently in receipt of a jobseekers payment.

At the end of May 2015, the Department made payments of just over €1.886 million to 3,587 employers in respect of 4,901 employees. A total of 1,102 people were under 25 years when they commenced employment. Since January 2015, a total of 276 people under 25 years have qualified for JobsPlus. Of these, 138 (50%) have qualified under the revised criteria for young persons under 25 years.

The following table gives a county by county breakdown of all those who were under 25 years when they commenced employment under the Jobsplus initiative. It also contains a breakdown by county of those who qualified under the revised criteria for young persons under 25 years since January 2015.