The new Intreo Centre in Wexford has officially opened.

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, T.D. officially opened the Department's new centre in Anne Street, Wexford.

The new Intreo Centre offers a one-stop shop where, for the first time, Wexford jobseekers can access income and employment supports in one place. The Centre already sees a total of 205 customers each week through the activation process, while a newly-established integrated decision unit will greatly improve the process of assessing customers’ payment applications.

The Tánaiste said: "As Minister for Social Protection, I have focused on transforming the Department from a passive benefits provider to an active and engaged employment service, through the Pathways to Work strategy. Intreo is a central element of the strategy, and represents a transformative approach to helping people get back to work, providing not just income supports but employment supports too.

-- Advertisement --

"Intreo Centres provide a wide range of services for employers, assisting them find recruits, and advising them of innovative employer-friendly schemes, such as JobsPlus. Under this scheme, the Department pays approximately €1 in every €4 of the typical cost of hiring a person who has been on the Live Register for over a year. Since it was launched in July last year, over 2,000 employers have availed of JobsPlus giving employment to over 2,700 jobseekers, some of whom were unemployed for at least 12 months and others for two years or more.

"I would urge all employers in the South East region to contact the Department, and discuss what we can do for you as an employer, in helping you find the right person for the vacancy in your business."

(CD)