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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. First, can the Minister give any indication as to when the consultants’ report will be completed and published in order that we and the Minister can examine it?

I am glad she mentioned value for money. I ask that she look at JobPath and the costs associated with the scheme, if it is to be extended as part of what has been mentioned in the July stimulus, and focus on contracted services as part of getting people back to work. This time last year, 226,851 people had been referred to JobPath. Some of them had been referred three, four or five times. Some 51,548 of these people commenced employment, but only just over 14,000 had the employment sustained for one year. This time last year, JobPath had cost over €182 million and 6% of referrals had obtained employment that lasted for a year. I ask that JobPath be considered in the context of whether it offers value for money.

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