Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Mannion. I thank Mr. Conlon for his presentation. He stated that schemes similar to JobPath are commonplace in other OECD countries. May we have some more information on this? The witnesses could give us something in writing, not necessarily today, about when such schemes were introduced in these various countries, the extent to which they are still operating and whether any of them have been discontinued.

I agree with the Chairman in that all the anecdotal evidence coming to me suggests that the LES and the Jobs Clubs have been adversely affected, so I look forward to the Department's list of referrals in that regard.

Regarding the data the witnesses have provided, I will tell them straight out that I am amazed at the cost of this: €1.2 million in 2015, €25.2 million in 2016, shooting up to €54 million in 2017. Do the witnesses have any idea what it will be in 2018? Are we going to continue on the same path?