Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in relation to the personal progression plan, PPP, offered by Seetec, she can confirm whether signing the PPP is a compulsory requirement, or whether it is possible for a jobseeker to engage with Seetec's service without committing to this plan; and if there are any penalties, such as a reduction in payment, for declining to sign the PPP while still being open to engage with NES Seetec services. [30003/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of employment services to support jobseekers in preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. These services are provided directly by my Department’s own staff or through the Intreo Partner and other services provided on behalf of my Department.

The Personal Progression Plan (PPP) is a crucial element of each Jobseeker’s engagement with any of my Department’s employment services. The PPP sets out the steps to be taken in order to assist the jobseeker in finding employment, and it is reviewed throughout their engagement period as they develop employment-related skills and competencies or job-related experience from short periods of employment.

Jobseekers have a right to claim an income support from my Department, and a corresponding mandatory requirement to engage with the employment services offered by my Department. While it is desirable that the jobseeker sign the PPP as part of this engagement, a person’s signature is not required in order to proceed with the service.

Where a jobseeker is not engaging with the Department's employment services, reduced rates may be applied to their payment. The application of reduced rates is entirely a matter for my Department and officials involved take all relevant factors into account. Should any reduced rates be applied, the client has the right to appeal this decision.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.