The government has unveiled plans to pay employers to take long-term unemployed off the dole. Under the 'JobsPlus' scheme, businesses can be paid between €7,500 and €10,000 over two years if they hire someone who has been on the live register for a year or longer.

"The advantage to the individual is obvious, there is an incentive for the employer and from the point of view of the State of course it will reduce the cost of social welfare payments and of course will result in revenue being generated because somebody at work is contributing to the economy and the tax system" stated Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

The JobsPlus scheme which was launched at Eishtec in Waterford this afternoon and will replace the current scheme where employers get PRSI exemptions.

Under the scheme, regular cash payments will be made to employers to offset wage costs where they employ persons who have been on the Live Register for more than 12 months.

The incentive will be payable, on a monthly basis, over a two-year period and will provide two levels of payment:

a payment of €7,500 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months
€10,000 over two years to the employer for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months

Eamon Gilmore spoke about the new scheme earlier.