Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator is under the impression that progression plans are how Turas Nua and Seetec get paid. They do not get paid based on whether claimants sign plans. Personal progression plans are not unique to Turas Nua or Seetec. They are used in our Intreo offices and for community employment schemes, Tús schemes, JobPath, JobsPlus and JobBridge. They are used in every single scheme under which we try to get people work or re-education. Without a plan, I do not know how one gets from A to B. When somebody comes into us fresh and raw, regardless of medium or representative body, we sit down and work out a plan. That is normal and natural if any progress is to be made. That is instilled across all platforms employed in the Department. If the Senator is really asking me whether these plans are being used as some sort of bullying tactic, these companies do not get paid based on whether plans are signed so I do not see how or why they would be used in that way. As Senator O'Reilly said earlier, if there is any evidence of anybody being abused that evidence should be brought to the local Intreo case officer looking after that Turas Nua or Seetec office or to me. That is not the intention of any office acting under the aegis of our Department. It is purely proactive.