Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons who believe that they have been unfairly and-or unprofessionally treated by employees of companies, such as Seetac and Turas Nua, which companies are tasked with the privatisation of the job placement role of her Department, can request to deal solely with their local Intreo office or their local employment service rather than with a private for profit company. [40208/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. All participants on JobPath have a right to be treated fairly and in a professional manner. As part of the contractual arrangements with the providers they are required to honour a service guarantee and to provide each client with a copy of that guarantee. The minimum elements of the guarantee have been specified by the Department and include a fair and transparent complaints process. Clients can also complain or make representations directly to the Department and all such complaints will be investigated. Each case will be examined on its merits and appropriate action will be taken.

As part of the process of assuring service quality JobPath providers will be subject to regular on-site inspections and audits to ensure that JobPath is delivered in accordance with contractual obligations. In addition the Department will commission customer satisfaction surveys to independently assess if customers who are referred to JobPath are satisfied with the level, and quality, of service delivered by the contractors. Failure by the contractors to satisfy the Department’s inspectors or to achieve a satisfactory score in the independent survey will result in payment penalties being applied.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection who decides when a person's jobseeker's payment can be cut; on what criteria is this decision based; and if this is at the discretion of a private company, such as Seetac and Turas Nua, which have been tasked with the privatisation of the job placement role of her Department. [40209/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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All decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are made by deciding officers of the Department. The application of a sanction to a jobseeker’s payment is governed by the provisions of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended by the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013. JobPath companies cannot make any decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements.

JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Each participant on JobPath is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience and challenges. They draw up a “personal progression plan” that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job targets. Participants receive tailored individual supports and may avail of a range of activities including online modules, career advice, CV preparation, interview skills as well as further education and training opportunities. If they get a job they may continue to receive support for the first year of employment.