Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons recruited to jobpass in the years 2015 and 2016 (details supplied); the number of persons initially signed up each year; the number of persons who completed year one and went on to complete year two; the number of persons who gained employment in Gort, Loughrea, Athenry, Tuam and Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23271/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to JobPath as the Department does not administer a scheme called JobPass.

As the Deputy will be aware, the state’s Public Employment Service is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers. These services have been designed by the department to augment and complement one another. The Department has some 68 contracts in place for the provision of these services.

JobPath is being delivered by two companies/contractors, Turas Nua and Seetec. This element of the service was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016. The numbers referred initially were low but this has increased with circa 94,000 Jobseekers having commenced with the service by May 2017, of these, some 71,000 had started their engagement with the service by the end of 2016. In the case of the areas specifically mentioned by the deputy, some 1,400 people have commenced their engagement period with the service to date. These clients were referred to the service from the Intreo Centre in Loughrea, and the Social Welfare Branch Offices in Ballinasloe, Gort and Tuam.

It is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months - under the service jobseekers have access to a personal adviser (PA) who works with them over two phases. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. In addition to the two phases Jobseekers may also undertake training while with the service and this may extend the period the jobseeker is supported through the service for up to a further 6 months.

It will therefore take time to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available. With this in mind, it is intended that a full econometric evaluation of the service will commence later this year.

However for 2017, my Department’s aim is to publish a cohort based report on the performance of the service on a quarterly basis. The first report was published on the 17th January (this report is available on the department’s website) with the second report due for publication (also on the department’s website) shortly. Given that only a small number of people have completed their full engagement period with the service these reports can only be treated as indicative, nevertheless the performance levels detailed in same are encouraging.

In relation to ensuring that the outcomes of the service are suitable to the person, the Department was careful in designing the service to ensure that payments to contractors are conditional on Jobseekers not just finding a job but finding and sustaining their employment. The companies are, for example, only paid a job outcome fee for each 13 week period of sustained employment of at least 30 hours per week. The suitability of employment is therefore a key factor in ensuring that jobs are sustainable. If people are placed into unsuitable jobs they are less likely to remain in employment and as a consequence the provider’s fees will be reduced. In addition the department has built in a number of controls related to the service, for example should one of the companies fall below the standards expected by the department in terms of performance, customer satisfaction or quality of service delivery the department can apply a sanction to the company concerned. The department conducts audits and inspections and monitors customer satisfaction and performance of the companies on an ongoing basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.