Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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653. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the basis for Turas Nua keeping files open on persons after they begin full-time employment even in cases in which persons have taken-up employment in circumstances (details supplied); her views on whether a person who had minimum to no engagement with Turas Nua should be on file for a year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41516/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Turas Nua is contracted by my Department to provide employment assistance and advice to jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. Participants receive intensive individual support for a period of 52 weeks, to help overcome barriers to employment and to assist in finding full-time, sustainable employment.

In the event that a jobseeker secures full time employment during the engagement period, the provider is required to offer in-employment support to that person. This includes scheduled contact with the person as well as ad-hoc contact, for example to address a need for immediate support or advice. As part of the service, this support is provided for 52 weeks from the time the employment commences.

The person is not required to attend any meetings with the JobPath provider during this time, and is not under any obligation to provide employment or employer details but, if they wish to do so, and avail of the in-employment support offered, all information will be treated as confidential.

In circumstances where a JobPath client who has secured employment subsequently loses that position within the original 52 week engagement, the service supports will resume and continue for the remainder of that period.

My Department is very aware of the need to have robust data protection policies, procedures and structures in place in line with current data protection legislation. The contracts with the JobPath providers are in compliance with all relevant legislation and any information shared is contractually based and necessary to provide the service. These contracts are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland.