Pat Breen
Question:132. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will process an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21385/16]
View answerSocial Welfare Appeals Delays
Questions (132)
Written answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 06th July 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Labour Activation Projects
Questions (133)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:133. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to scrap the Gateway local authority labour activation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21389/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Gateway initiative is one of a range of activation programmes included in the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy to help jobseekers back to employment. Gateway provides work placements in local authorities for a period of 22 months to those who are unemployed for more than two years.
Gateway assists the personal and social development of long-term unemployed persons by providing quality work opportunities. The initiative also helps local authorities to fulfil commitments in respect of the activation agenda and to undertake work of benefit to the local community.
There are currently no plans to close the Gateway scheme. However, with the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, I believe that a review of work schemes, including Gateway, will be necessary. This will ensure that the number and nature of schemes, as well as the conditions governing participation, continue to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.
Jobs Initiative
Questions (134, 135, 136)
John Brady
Question:134. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection why Turas Nua has not allowed a person (details supplied) to take part in training for hazard analysis and critical control points, given that it is appropriate to employment as a kitchen and catering assistant. [21390/16]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:135. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection why Turas Nua is restricting persons under the jobseeker's scheme from taking up other relevant training programmes that become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21391/16]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:136. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is not allowed to look at FETAC levels to upskill while within Turas Nua. [21392/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together.
JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The JobPath service is delivered by two companies - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited. The companies deliver services directly and also engage with a range of local subcontractors, including training and employment service providers.
I understand that the person concerned was referred to JobPath on 19/03/2016 and has been actively engaging with their personal advisor. The person agreed a personal progression plan on 04/04/2016. Turas Nua advised my Department that this client was not disallowed or hampered from participating in any hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) courses, and has completed Level 1 and Level 2 HACCP as of 27/06/2016.
On 05/07/2016 the person concerned also enquired about the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS). On 06/07/2016 their personal advisor sought clarification from my Department as to whether or not the person concerned would be permitted to leave the service in order to commence a VTOS course. My Department confirmed to Turas Nua on 11/07/2016 that JobPath participants are eligible to apply.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help overcome barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a “personal progression plan” that includes a schedule of activities, including relevant training and educational programmes to assist them in finding full-time sustainable employment. There are no barriers to any participants perusing training, including further education and training courses, providing they are relevant to the agreed personal progression plan.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
JobPath Implementation
Questions (137)
Martin Heydon
Question:137. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an offer of part-time employment for a person (details supplied) under the Tús work placement initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21404/16]
View answerWritten answers
JobPath is a service contracted by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to provide long-term unemployed clients with intensive individual support over a period of 12 months, to help them overcome barriers to employment and to assist them to find employment. Contracts to deliver JobPath were signed with two companies – Seetec Limited and Turas Nua Limited. Referrals started in July 2015 and it is expected that 60,000 referrals will be made to JobPath providers in 2016.
Any person registered with a JobPath company cannot accept a position on Tús or any other DSP employment scheme, if registered with JobPath prior to the offer of employment, on that scheme. The person concerned was registered with Turas Nua on 30th April 2016 and was later interviewed for Tús on 25th May 2016. As he was registered with JobPath prior to the offer of a Tús placement, he is not eligible to take up this placement.
If the person concerned has not secured employment by the end of his 12-month engagement with Turas Nua, he would then be eligible for referral to DSP employment schemes.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
Departmental Agencies Staff Data
Questions (138)
Róisín Shortall
Question:138. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of personal advisers recruited by contractors and currently in operation under the JobPath scheme; the basis on which he deems the qualifications and experience of such personal advisers adequate; the procedures in place to ensure that these qualifications and experience, as required by the tendering process, continue to meet the standards set down during the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21433/16]
View answerWritten answers
At present there are over 300 full-time equivalent personal advisers (excluding administrative and support staff) working with JobPath providers. This number will continue to increase as the caseload being managed by JobPath increases.
Existing employers of case officers/personal advisors, including the Department itself and the Local Employment Service providers do not specify particular qualifications as a pre-requisite to appointment to the role of case officer/personal advisor.
The JobPath providers were however required to set out their approach to recruitment and training of staff as part of the procurement process and the proposals submitted were taken into account in the assessment of tenders. As there are two providers the proposals differed somewhat but shared many common characteristics including a multi-stage recruitment process of interviews and assessment centres, and a requirement for candidates to demonstrate specific experience, skills and competencies in areas such as knowledge of local labour market conditions, recruitment practice, customer service, use of IT systems, rapport building and interpersonal skills, and problem solving.
Similarly the training programmes for staff within the JobPath providers share common characteristics including training modules of induction, skills/competency development, on the job mentoring/coaching and the opportunity for professional accreditation through the Institute of Employability Professionals in the UK.
The Department of Social Protection has itself recently completed the design of a modular training programme for its own case officers and expects to have this accredited to level 7/8 within the QQI framework within the next 6 – 9 months.
The Department has built a number of checks into the JobPath including on-site inspections and independent surveys of client experience/satisfaction with the service provided by the JobPath contractors. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory performance can lead to the application of payment penalties and potentially to cancellation of contracts. These checks and measures are in addition to the performance control inherent in the payment by results nature of the contracts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Questions (139)
Clare Daly
Question:139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection why the payment day for jobseeker's allowance for some persons was changed from a Friday to a Tuesday; why some persons were only given 24-hours notice of this change; his view on whether 24-hours notice for such a change is adequate, given persons in receipt of this payment, will now have to wait an extra four days before receiving their payment, having been given no time to plan for such a delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21440/16]
View answerWritten answers
Jobseeker clients in Swords were paid on Fridays for technical reasons. However the majority of Intreo Offices pay Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) on Tuesday, and Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) on Wednesday. The payment days for Jobseekers in Swords have been brought forward to Tuesday (JA) and Wednesday (JB) to bring them in line with other Intreo Offices.
JA customers of Swords Intreo Office who were previously paid every Friday including last Friday 8th July will now be paid every Tuesday commencing on Tuesday 12 July 2016. This week each customer will receive their payment 3 days earlier than usual.
Likewise, JB customers were paid last Friday 8th July 2016 and will be paid this coming Wednesday 13th July 2016 (2 days earlier than normal) and every Wednesday thereafter. The customers in question have all been notified by post. It was decided to send their notification letters out after they were paid last Friday 8th July in order to avoid any confusion.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (140)
Peter Burke
Question:140. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [21453/16]
View answerWritten answers
I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 31 March 2016.
CA was awarded on 12 July 2016 with effect from 18 February 2016.
The first payment will issue to her nominated post office on the 21 July 2016. Arrears of allowance due from the 18 February 2016 have also issued to the post office.
The person concerned was notified of these details on the 12 July 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.