Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

49. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have been referred to JobPath since its inception; the number of persons that have received a sanction on their welfare payments due to non-engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39649/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua. The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016. Almost 120,000 Jobseekers have commenced with the service to date. It is important to note at the outset that the rules and processes for the application of a reduced rate of payment are the same across all of the Department’s employment services, whether they are delivered directly by the Department’s own Intreo service or through its contracted services.

It should also be noted that only a Departmental official - and not contractor’s staff - can make a decision to apply a reduced rate of payment.

The process with regards to such decisions includes written/verbal warnings and an opportunity for the jobseeker to re-engage with the services prior to the application of a reduced payment rate.

Of the 120,000 clients who engaged with the JobPath service, approximately 7000, or 5.8%, have had a penalty rate applied to their payment at some stage. Some of these clients may have had the penalty rate applied after finishing their engagement period with the JobPath service, so the actual number who have had a penalty rate applied while with the JobPath service is likely to be slightly lower.