Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases in which penalty rates applied within the referrals for sanctions implemented; the number of cases in which disqualifications or disallowances were implemented by JobPath providers and in other activation programmes, respectively; and the processes undertaken to ensure that the escalation from penalty rates to disqualifications is appropriate and justified. [11031/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The data sought by the Deputy is not readily available.  My department will be in contact with the Deputy's office to discuss what is required and how that may be provided.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases in which JobPath providers provide relevant statements from the client within the total number of referrals for sanctions; the number of cases in which deciding officers requested more information from JobPath providers; and the number of those that resulted in the eventual implementation of sanctions. [11032/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A jobseeker may provide to a Deciding Officer of the Department any evidence he or she feels is relevant to their case, including whether they had good cause for non-engagement when a Deciding Officer is considering the application of a penalty rate.  Furthermore, a Deciding Officer may contact a Jobseeker by phone or arrange to meet with the Jobseeker to discuss their circumstances before making a decision in relation to the application of a penalty rate.  All evidence provided by the Jobseeker is taken into account when making such decisions.  However, statistical data in relation to these communications are not available.  If a jobseeker is dissatisfied with a decision to apply a penalty rate he or she may appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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294. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of jobseekers who had sanctions applied as a result of failure to attend meetings and to avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities or specified employment programmes and schemes under the JobPath programme. [11033/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Penalty rates were introduced as a means of encouraging jobseekers to engage with activation measures and co-operate with efforts of the Department to assist them in securing employment.  The Department is committed, under Pathways to Work, to incentivise the take-up of activation opportunities, including implementing sanctions for failure to engage. 

 The legislation underpinning the application of penalty rates is provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 2010. JobPath providers and other contracted services cannot in any circumstances apply a penalty rate or recommend that a penalty rate be applied.  Seetec and Turas Nua inform the Department of non-engagement with their service where a Deciding Officer of the Department then examines all the facts and circumstances of the case.  Only then is a penalty rate applied if appropriate and in line with the legislation. Penalty rates can only be applied by a Deciding Officer of my Department in specific circumstances and not on foot of a recommendation from Seetec or Turas Nua.  

In all cases where a JobPath customer has been penalty rated, full payment is restored immediately upon re-engagement with JobPath. When a penalty rate is applied a new appointment is scheduled to afford the Jobseeker an opportunity to engage. 

Penalty rates are only applied as a last resort.  If dissatisfied with any decision of the Deciding Officer, it is open to the Jobseeker to appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The total number of Jobseekers who engaged with JobPath since its inception until end of January 2019 was 205,184 and the total number of sanctions applied to Jobseekers who engaged with the service in the same period was 14,000. These sanctions may have been applied in a range of circumstances including failure to attend activation meetings and failure to avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities which were considered appropriate to the person’s circumstances.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.