Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the efforts she is making to ensure her Department has a detailed breakdown of the skills sets of jobseekers; the way she is measuring the success of activation measures in this context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8177/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection keeps a detailed breakdown of the skillsets of jobseekers. Data on each client’s past occupation, and his/her education, is collected at the point of registration for job-seekers’ payment; these and other relevant data are processed and the probability of leaving the live register is calculated (PEX). At a later stage the jobseeker is interviewed and the relevant information is updated to assist in the clients’ job search (including through collection of additional details on past work history, education, and any barriers to employability such as numeracy or literacy issues). Summary statistical information on the clients’ last held occupation as well as demographic and regional information is published on the Central Statistics Office website.

With regard to measuring the success of activation measures the main measure used is the extent to which participants go on to take up employment or further education/training.

In this regard, the Department has compiled a longitudinal database to track outcomes of participants on the Department’s schemes/programmes, which can also be used to monitor outcomes for programmes operated by other Departments. The database includes information on the skillsets of participants, and provides a basis for more systematic programme evaluation. The Department has commissioned the ESRI to conduct an initial “pathfinder” evaluation of the Back to Education Allowance Scheme using this database. It is planned to tender for a broader econometric evaluation of activation schemes in the near future.

In addition, an evaluation of the DSP Contact Centre service for employers is carried out every six months. Based on the results of these evaluations, measures are taken to ensure that job placement rates for Live Registrants are maximised.