JobPath Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2019

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Questions (41)

Bríd Smith

Question:

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the JobPath provider Seetec is issuing notices to jobseekers detailing its policy on tackling radicalism; if jobseekers have been referred to her Department or An Garda Síochána in respect of same; the number of claimants that have been sanctioned or interviewed on foot of the concerns of Seetec relating to potential radicalisation risks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38794/19]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

JobPath is a service which supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full time paid employment. Seetec is one of the companies contracted by my Department to deliver the Job Path service.

Seetec have strong customer service policies in place, one of which is a safeguarding policy. The Seetec policy covers a range of areas where concern may emerge regarding the safety of a customer or others and the action that Seetec may take in regard to that concern, this may involve notifying the appropriate statutory agency of their concerns.

Seetec make a leaflet available to customers setting out their safeguarding policy and the procedure Seetec follow as part of their commitment to safeguarding their customers and others.

As the Deputy will be aware, decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are taken only by Department officials and that external contractors have no role in that decision making process.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Question No. 42 answered with Question No. 24.