Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of additional jobs created by the JobPath programme; the cost of the programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46338/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a 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. It is important to note that these types of services, which are delivered under contract by JobPath, Local Employment Service and Job Club providers, do not create employment in themselves rather they assist jobseekers to enter or re-enter full time paid employment.

There are two phases to the JobPath service. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, an appointed personal advisor 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 personal advisor continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months.

As at 30 September, some 124,000 Jobseekers have commenced with the JobPath service. The latest published data indicates that full-time job starts under JobPath exceed the target rate set by 36%.

JobPath is a payment by results model and all costs are borne by the companies themselves.

The payments made are in respect of an initial registration fee, on have completion of a personal progression plan, and thereafter fees are only paid for sustained employment outcomes of 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks duration.

The gross cost of the service since July 2015 up to the end of September 2017 is €71.2m. The overall cost of the service will be determined by the number of people who engage with the service, the number of jobseekers who successfully sustain employment and less the saving arising to the department from a payment by results model of contracting.