Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
293. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases in which JobPath providers provide relevant statements from the client within the total number of referrals for sanctions; the number of cases in which deciding officers requested more information from JobPath providers; and the number of those that resulted in the eventual implementation of sanctions. [11032/19]
View answerA jobseeker may provide to a Deciding Officer of the Department any evidence he or she feels is relevant to their case, including whether they had good cause for non-engagement when a Deciding Officer is considering the application of a penalty rate. Furthermore, a Deciding Officer may contact a Jobseeker by phone or arrange to meet with the Jobseeker to discuss their circumstances before making a decision in relation to the application of a penalty rate. All evidence provided by the Jobseeker is taken into account when making such decisions. However, statistical data in relation to these communications are not available. If a jobseeker is dissatisfied with a decision to apply a penalty rate he or she may appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
