Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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484. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid in 2016 in registration fees to companies (details supplied) for the JobPath scheme. [50762/17]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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485. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who were referred to the JobPath scheme in 2016. [50763/17]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of participants in the JobPath scheme in 2016 who have been placed in permanent employment by each of the operators of the scheme (details supplied). [50765/17]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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490. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount of job sustainment fees paid in 2016 to companies (details supplied) for the JobPath scheme. [50785/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 to 486, inclusive, and 490 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016.

Some 65,000 Clients commenced their engagement with the service between January 1st & Dec 31st 2016.

In relation to the number of participants to find full time employment, 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. The Department has, however, commenced publishing initial cohort reports on the performance of the service. The last report can be accessed on the Department’s website. I can confirm that the next report will be published within the next two weeks.

The most recent cohort report published on the Department’s website indicates that 19% of Jobseekers who engaged with JobPath between July 2015 and March 2016 entered full time employment (this was 36% above the weighted reference performance rate of 14%), 4% of participants entered part time employment and a further 3% entered Self-employment. Overall 26% of JobPath participants within this period had an employment outcome. In addition, this report also shows that compared to people who did not take part in the service, people who availed of the service were up to 34% more likely to find a job than those who did not. It is important to note that the outcomes for each cohort are updated every time these reports are published, to take account of outcomes that have been validated since the last publication date.

While the indications are positive, these initial reports are subject to review and are based on a small sample size and should be treated with caution.

An in-depth evaluation of the JobPath strand of the Department’s activation service has commenced data gathering. Completion of the evaluation is provisionally scheduled for the end of Quarter 3, 2018.

JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The registration fee may be claimed once a jobseeker has developed a Personal Progression Plan (PPP). Job Sustainment Fees (JSF) are payable for each 13 week period of sustained employment, up to a maximum of 52 weeks (i.e. 4 payments).

The overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.

It is not intended to publish the details of payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive. The commercial sensitivity is specifically in relation to the release of information which has the potential to influence the pricing of future contracts providing a similar service, and thereby conferring commercial advantage on one bidder over another.

The total amount paid in fees to the two companies in 2016 was €25.2m.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.