Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
340. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the private companies (details supplied) contracted to provide JobPath are in receipt of funding from his Department for courses provided by them; if so, the cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4392/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua, have been contracted to deliver the service.
The service is being delivered through a payment by results model and all initial costs are borne by the companies i.e. the model is so structured that the contractors cannot recover their costs or make a profit unless they successfully place jobseekers into full time, paid and sustainable employment.
Contractors are only paid via a combination of an initial registration fee and thereafter job sustainment fees. Job sustainment fees are only paid when a jobseeker is successful in obtaining and sustaining employment for periods of 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks.
Contractors are not in receipt of funding from the department for the training or other interventions they may provide.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
