Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

JobPath leaves much to be desired. Turas Nua and Seetec are not private companies per se, but they are acting like private companies. This is the wrong formula. They get paid when someone is referred to them and when someone gets a position. I have dealt with some awful cases where mental distress has been caused by the abuse people received and the hardships they were forced through under JobPath. "Turas Nua" means "new journey", but I call it "Turas Uafásach", which means "awful journey". It has been an awful journey. JobPath is a shameful scheme.

I have been a chairman of a CE scheme that has been running since 1988. We do very valuable work under our supervisor, Mr. Seán Byrne. As its committee members and directors, we have an onerous job. Everything has to be accounted for, and rightly so. I thank the people in the Department who look after us. However, we cannot get participants now because they are all tied into this Ponzi scheme. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck. It is a horrible scheme and a turas uafásach. I appeal to the Minister to do something about it. People are being bullied and intimidated. Some are on the verge of doing something awful because of the treatment they have received. They have to get buses because they do not have transport to get to the towns where the offices are located. Some of them are very intimidated.

It is a shame that JobPath is focused less on supporting the person than on just ticking boxes, getting people into jobs that they are unsuitable for and then collecting lucrative payments. Whether they are private companies, semi-private companies or set up as limited companies, this is not right. Two wrongs will never make a right, and this is very wrong. It needs to be reviewed and this turas needs to be stopped in its tracks. That CE schemes and other schemes cannot get participants while this crazy structure is running alongside them is wrong.

See this speech in context