Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister stated that she had considered extending the PUP to over-66s. That would encompass the enterprise support grant being payable to them. Does she have a rough idea of how many people aged 66 years or older would be at work, either as self-employed or otherwise? I assume that her Department has examined the cost. Does she have the figures?

It took us two years to find out the fees relating to JobPath. We got them through the Committee of Public Accounts. It is an enormous cost to the taxpayer. One need not discuss how people are treated or so on if one just looks at the figures - €3,718 per person who sustains a job for 52 weeks. People are being referred two, three or four times. Each time someone is referred, the company automatically gets €311. There are then four sustainment fees depending on how long the person sustains employment.

The local employment service, LES, proposed that it could take up to 100,000 people. The Minister knows the wrap-around supports that are included with the LES in terms of well-being and mental health, which are important in the current climate. Those supports are not provided through JobPath.

Will the Minister examine the amounts that these companies are getting? Will there be any change to same, given that the companies will get fees for a further 12 months?