A major Government job activation scheme has been branded “exploitative” by Sinn Féin.

The Taoiseach has denied unemployed people are being “forced” to participate in a scheme that requires them to sweep the streets or cut grass for an extra €20 a week or face losing their dole.

Almost 15 months after the Government announced it in a budget speech, just 60 of the 3,000 places available on the Gateway job training scheme have been filled.