Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the operation of the JobPath scheme in assisting persons access employment. [40007/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Participants on JobPath will receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who will assess a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A “personal progression plan” will be drawn up that will include a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. They will 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 twelve months while in employment.

An important feature of JobPath is that it is a payment by results contract. In other words contractors are paid if and when they place clients into sustained employment. In this regard employment is defined as work of at least thirty (30) hours per week lasting for at least thirteen (13) weeks. Contractors are paid a fee, in arrears, for each thirteen week period of employment up to a maximum of four payments or one year’s work. This payment approach incentivises the contractors not just to place find work for people but to strive to ensure that the work is full-time and sustained.

The roll-out of JobPath began on 20 July 2015. Jobseekers from the following offices are currently being referred to JobPath: Arklow, Ballina, Bray, Carlow, Carrigaline, Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cobh, Cork Abbey Court, Cork Hanover Street, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Mullingar, Navan, Newbridge, Thurles, Tullamore, Waterford, Westport and Wexford.

The following offices are planned to go live before the end of the year: Achill, Belmullet, Bishop Square, Buncrana, Cahirciveen, Drogheda, Dungloe, Finglas, Letterkenny, Listowel, Newcastlewest, Swords, Tallaght and Tralee. The remaining offices are expected to go live in early 2016.