Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1461. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consequences for a jobseeker who does not want to sign a contract with a private company for a JobPath scheme or similar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16356/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Participants with any of the Department’s contracted activation services such as JobPath or the Local Employment Service (LES) are not required to sign a contract with the companies but they are, in the same manner as customers referred to the Department’s own Intreo activation service requested to agree and sign a personal progression plan (PPP).

A PPP contains a schedule of activities; actions and job focused targets, taking into account a person’s specific qualifications and employment preferences. The person will be requested to sign the PPP as an indication of their agreement to the activation measures contained in the document. Should a customer fail to agree a PPP it may be one of a number of factors that would be considered by a Deciding Officer of my Department when considering a penalty rate of payment for non-engagement with activation services.

The process for sanctioning clients who do not engage with the JobPath activation process is the same as the process for clients who fail to engage with the Department’s other activation services provided by Intreo Centres, Local Employment Services and Job Clubs.

It is important to state that all decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are taken only by Department officials and not by the external contractors.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.