Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway-Walsh for raising this matter and apologise on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who could not be here as he had a previous engagement.

Ireland’s public employment service is managed by the Department of Social Protection and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, namely, the JobPath companies, the local employment service, LES, and Jobs Clubs.

The JobPath service is a new approach to the provision of employment supports to jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. An open public procurement process was conducted in accordance with European Union and Irish procurement rules. Two companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, were selected to deliver the JobPath service.

The companies deliver services directly and also engage with a range of local subcontractors, including training and employment service providers. JobPath is an addition to, not a substitute for, the services already provided by the Department and the LES. JobPath is thereby increasing the Department’s overall capacity to engage with, support and assist jobseekers to get sustained employment.

JobPath is a payment by results model and all initial costs are borne by the companies. JobPath is so structured that the companies are not able to fully recover their costs until they successfully place sufficient numbers of jobseekers into sustained paid employment. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time sustainable jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal adviser who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal adviser works with the jobseeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Jobseekers are also provided with a range of training and development supports, including online modules, career advice, curriculum vitae preparation and interview skills. They spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job, they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to 12 months while in employment. During their time on JobPath, they may also be referred for further education and training opportunities.

In 2016, the Department agreed contracts with the LES to provide a more intensive level of engagement with jobseekers. In order to assist the LES to undertake a more intensive level of engagement, the number of jobseeker referrals was correspondingly reduced. This would not have been possible without the benefit of JobPath. JobPath is thus assisting the LES to deliver a better service for jobseekers and also assisting jobseekers directly via its own range of services and supports.

Rather than being anti-competitive, the JobPath initiative has brought additional providers into the Irish employment services market and is thus providing jobseekers with a wider range of services.