Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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134. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount Seetec Employment and Skills Ireland has been paid for its work under the JobPath scheme; how many persons it has assisted; her views on whether this represents value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2315/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobPath is a new approach to employment activation to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Two companies, Turas Nua and Seetec, have been contracted by the Department to deliver JobPath services. At the end of 2015 some 3,000 jobseekers had been referred to Seetec. It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts now in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken. JobPath is a payment by results model and all initial costs are borne by the companies. JobPath is so structured that the companies will not be able to fully recover their costs until they place sufficient numbers of jobseekers into sustainable jobs. The companies have a year to work with each jobseeker in order to secure employment. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are provided with a range of development supports and may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. If placed into a job the companies will continue to provide in-work support to the client for at least three months and up to twelve months while the client remains in employment.