Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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333. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total amounts paid to the companies administering the JobPath programme on behalf of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40010/16]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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334. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of social protection recipients who have participated in the JobPath programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40011/16]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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335. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been successfully placed in gainful employment as a direct result of participation on the jobpath programme broken down to indicate the numbers placed successfully by each company administering the scheme. [40012/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 to 335, inclusive, together.

As the deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.

JobPath supplements the internal case management capacity of my Department's Intreo service and the Local Employment Service (LES). JobPath aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of engagement with the service for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time they receive intensive individual support to help them to overcome barriers to employment and if a person is placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to an additional twelve months while in employment.

Some 62,000 jobseekers have engaged with the service to date. The JobPath service was rolled out on a phased basis from mid-2015. Job placement data in respect of the first groups who have recently completed their engagement period are currently being compiled and are expected to be available shortly. Payments to the JobPath companies amounted to €1.2m in 2015 and €25.2m in 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.