Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and giving us an opportunity to discuss some of the issues he has raised. JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a rigorous public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service, Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies will deliver services directly and will also engage a range of local subcontractors, including local training and employment service providers. In delivering these services the contractors will be supplementing and complementing the work of the Department's existing in-house case officers and the work of the mediators of the local employment services. JobPath will not replace or substitute for these services. It will provide additional capacity to extend case-managed activation to people who are long-term unemployed.

JobPath has been designed having regard to international experience of contracted employment services. Significant safeguards have been built into JobPath. These include a service guarantee to ensure all participants receive a baseline level of service as well as payment penalties for the companies if service performance or service quality do not meet standards.

Participants on JobPath will receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal adviser who will assess a person's skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A personal progression plan will be drawn up that will include a schedule of activities, actions and job-focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports, including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They will spend a year on the programme and if they are placed in a job, they may continue to receive support from the JobPath contractor for the first year of employment. During their term on JobPath they may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. Jobseekers retain their existing social welfare payments while on JobPath.

An important feature of JobPath is that it is a payment by results contract. Contractors are paid if and when they place clients into sustained employment. In this regard employment is defined as work of at least 30 hours per week lasting for at least 13 weeks. Contractors are paid a fee, in arrears, for each 13-week period of employment up to a maximum of four payments or one year's work. This payment approach incentivises the contractors not just to find work for people but to strive to ensure the work is full time and sustained.

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