Mr. Niall Egan:

I thank the Deputy. We provided a copy of the econometric review conducted by the Department and the OECD into JobPath. That, I think, provides the answers he is looking for. Very briefly, we undertook a review of the performance of JobPath. JobPath only deals with the long-term unemployed, so the short-term cohort was not covered. We examined individuals and broke them down by similar characteristics. We looked at individuals who were supported by JobPath and those with the same type of characteristics who were supported by other services.

JobPath participants enjoy a 17% higher wage level than individuals who were not supported by JobPath. There is a 26% improvement in employment outcomes for JobPath participants compared with individuals who were not supported by JobPath. Combined, that amounts to a cumulative overall improvement for JobPath participants of 37%, between employment and earnings, in comparison with individuals who were not supported by JobPath. That is the level of analysis that we have undertaken. We are committed to continue looking at econometric reviews of a similar nature in relation to the future services as we contract them.