Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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824. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department is aware of employment service providers (details supplied) subcontracting any work specifically related to the JobPath programme. [24304/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The JobPath Service ceased to operate in June 2024.

My Department currently contracts external employment services through three programmes, the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services, the Intreo Partners National Employment Services and the Employability service.

The contracts which are in place between my Department and the contracted employment service providers permit contractors to engage subcontractors.

All contractors are, under contract, subject to strict obligations imposed by my Department. Contractors are contractually obliged to exercise due care and diligence in the appointment of subcontractors and to ensure the service provided by its subcontractors complies with all applicable legal obligations.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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825. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost to the Department of Social Protection of the contracts signed with employment services providers (details supplied) since they were first signed, to date in 2025, and if the Minister make a statement on this. [24305/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has contracted with Turas Nua and Seetec as employment service providers since 2015 initially under the JobPath Programme. Referrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service ceased completely in June 2024. JobPath was a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs were borne by the companies. The companies were paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments were made only when a client had achieved sustained employment.

Following a number of procurement exercises, since 2022, my Department now delivers such employment services through the externally contracted Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (LAES) and Intreo Partners National Employment Services (NES). The NES is provided by Turas Nua and Seetec. The LAES is provided nationally by way of 21 providers, 19 of which are local voluntary and community organisations with the remaining 2 providers being Turas and Seetec.

The overall cost of JobPath, NES and LAES is 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 individual payments to the JobPath, NES and LAES companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts that were in place and in future procurement processes. The table below provides the overall cost to date of the contracts signed with Turas Nua and Seetec across the different programmes.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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826. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total amount paid to employers through the JobPath programme facilitated by Turas Nua and Seetec, specifically in cases where employment is sustained over a specified period and the amount his Department has paid to employers in total since the commencement of contracts with Turas Nua and Seetec. [24308/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Referrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service ceased completely in June 2024.  JobPath was a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs were borne by the companies.  The companies were paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments were made only when a client had achieved sustained employment.

The Department of Social Protection does not make any direct payments to employers in relation to Jobpath or any other Contracted Public Employment Services.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.