To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning (i) whether Steps 2 Success takes preference over other projects which provide opportunities for young people to gain qualifications; and (ii) to give his assessment of the challenges posed for young people who are currently participating on other programmes and who are required to participate in Steps 2 Success.

(i)

Steps 2 Success (S2S) is my Department’s main employment programme. Eligibility for S2S is determined by the type of benefit which a client receives, the length of time on benefit and the client’s barriers to employment.

S2S provides a personalised, tailored service to meet individual needs. This service, which may include a qualification, is underpinned by Service Guarantees to ensure all participants get the support they need.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants, aged 18 to 24 years old, are required under the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014, to participate on S2S when they have been in receipt of that benefit for nine months. JSA claimants who are referred to S2S must attend and participate on the programme in order to maintain their entitlement to benefit. S2S, therefore, takes precedence over other employability programmes which are not mandatory.

(ii)

Where a JSA claimant reaches their S2S eligibility point and is participating on another programme, my Department’s Employment Service Advisers can consider deferring the S2S referral. This deferral can be up to 90 days and should allow the client time to complete the programme they have started and, where possible, move into employment. This deferral should remove any challenge to young people completing other programmes when they reach the required trigger point to participate on S2S. Clients will be referred to S2S at the end of the deferral period if they have not found employment and are still claiming JSA.