Skip to main content
Normal View

Wednesday, 22 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 111-125

School Management

Questions (111)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education her plans to develop new measures to support school leadership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45748/21]

View answer

Written answers

In total 1700 additional leadership posts have been invested in our primary schools since the lifting of the moratorium on posts of responsibility in 2017, which has led to 1 in 3 teachers now holding promoted positions. The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which ensures that the current level of Posts of Responsibility are maintained in the school system. The most recent update for the current school year is available on the Department's website (Circular 0025/2021). This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.

As part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, funding was specifically provided for Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools to provide for a minimum of one release day per week. Schools have been advised that, in the context of COVID-19, the additional allocation of Principal Release Days will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year.

There are also extensive CPD opportunities and supports for School Leaders provided by the Centre for School Leadership (CSL). These supports include the development of a coherent continuum of professional development for school leaders commencing with pre-appointment training through to induction of newly appointed principals to continuous professional development throughout a school leader’s career. The centre is also involved in coaching, mentoring and the development of professional qualifications for school leaders. The CSL website (www.cslireland.ie) provides extensive information on supports available to school principals and school leaders.

The Distributed Leadership Model enables schools to align the responsibilities of senior and middle leadership teams more clearly to the identified needs and priorities of the school. The model allows for the distribution of the range of responsibilities for various leadership roles and provides opportunities for teachers to develop their leadership capacity.

State Examinations

Questions (112)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

112. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education her plans in place to support students due to sit the leaving certificate examinations in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45749/21]

View answer

Written answers

I am conscious that students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning.

My Department co-chairs an Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations in conjunction with the State Examinations Commission. The group was originally established to consider contingency arrangements for the 2020 Leaving Certificate and was reconstituted for the purposes of planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate. The group includes representatives of students (Irish Second Level Students Union), parents (National Parents Councils), teachers (TUI and ASTI), school leadership and management bodies, the State Examinations Commission (SEC), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Education, including the National Educational Psychological Service.

In meetings held in April and May, this group discussed the Leaving Certificate 2022 examinations.

On 30 June, the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations received an update in relation to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.

Following this meeting, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 examinations which are similar to those published in December 2020 in respect of Leaving Certificate 2021.

The adjustments are outlined in Assessment Arrangements for Junior and Leaving Certificate 2022, which is available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate.

These adjustments will leave intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice for students in the examinations.

The adjustments provide greater choice for candidates across a wide range of subjects.

A summary advice note setting out the key curriculum and assessment arrangements for Leaving Certificate Applied Year 1 and Year 2 students in the 2021/22 school year has also been published and is also available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate.

The system of Calculated Grades which operated for Leaving Certificate 2020 was intended to be a once-off event in 2020 given the sudden and very challenging position at that time and the impossibility of running examinations in their traditional form safely.

A decision was made by Government in February 2021 to offer a system of Accredited Grades to this year’s Leaving Certificate students. The rationale for this was that, given the levels of disruption to learning experienced by current Leaving Certificate students during two significant and prolonged periods during their Senior Cycle education, it would have been unfair and unjust to require such students to sit traditional Leaving Certificate Examinations without offering an alternative or parallel process.

While schools were closed as a result of Covid-19 from January 2021, a programme of remote learning was provided to all students. Students who were in fifth year were also prioritised for a return to school following the return of sixth year students.

It is hoped that incoming sixth year students will be able to complete a full year of in-school tuition when they return to school at the start of the 2021/22 school year, and will experience no further disruption to their learning as a result of Covid-19

It was also announced, on 30 June that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will run an alternative set of Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2022, shortly following the main set of examinations. The SEC will set out the eligibility conditions for these examinations, which will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID-19 illness during those examinations, and certain other categories of serious illness, to be clearly and strictly delineated. The SEC will issue further details regarding these examinations, with all arrangements developed in consultation with public health specialists. There will also be further engagement with stakeholders in this matter.

Departmental Projects

Questions (113)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

113. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the measures taken to implement the two priority projects planned under the EU-NRRP funding of €63.5 million for school broadband and digital infrastructure for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45750/21]

View answer

Written answers

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.

Under this facility, the Department of Education applied for and will receive funding in respect of two projects to provide digital infrastructure and funding to schools, high speed broadband connectivity for primary schools where the National Broadband Plan and commercial provision will not provide such connectivity (Project A), and funding for schools to provide for interventions to address the digital divide, particularly access to digital devices and relevant ICT infrastructure (Project B).

Project A will provide €13.5m in funding. This will support an intervention project whereby those primary schools outside of the National Broadband Plan Intervention area, and in areas where commercial provision is insufficient, will be provided with high speed connectivity of 100 Mbp/s or greater. Through this project, the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area implementation, and commercial provision, it is intended to provide high speed connectivity to all primary schools by the end of 2022. This will all operate under the Schools Broadband Programme. Implementation of this project, led by a Steering Group including representatives from my Department, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, HEAnet, and the PDST, is underway.

Project B will provide €50m in funding for schools. This will issue through a one-off scheme to schools, targeting those learners most at risk of educational disadvantage through lack of access to ICT equipment. While available data shows that some schools have concentrated levels of disadvantage it is also the case that other schools may have learners at risk of educational disadvantage among their student cohort. Schools are best placed to identify and address inequalities to ensure those learners most at risk are supported and have access to the appropriate digital technologies required to give them every opportunity to fulfil their educational potential and gain key digital skills as part of their education.

My Department has committed to issuing the funding to schools in Q4 2021. Work is underway to determine the criteria for a scheme that will apply to underpin the allocation of this grant funding.

State Pensions

Questions (114)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

114. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in relation to women who were working in the home for a long time not eligible for certain pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45733/21]

View answer

Written answers

Subject to the standard qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) also being satisfied, the State pension system currently gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role.

This is provided through the award of credits and/or the application of the Homemaker’s Scheme (under the Yearly Average method for payment calculation) and/or the application of HomeCaring Periods (under the Aggregated Contribution Method or the interim Total Contributions Approach).

Details of these are –

- Credits – PRSI Credits are awarded to recipients of Carer’s Allowance (and Carer’s Benefit) where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid Carer’s Leave from work.

- The Homemaker’s Scheme - The scheme, which was introduced with effect from 1994, is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for State Pension (Contributory). The Scheme, which allows periods caring for children or people with a caring need to be disregarded (from 1994), can have the effect of increasing the Yearly Average.

- HomeCaring Periods – This Scheme makes it easier for a home carer to qualify for a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory). HomeCaring Periods can only be used under the Aggregated Contribution Method (also known as the Interim Total Contributions Approach) of pension calculation. HomeCaring Periods may be awarded for each week not already covered by a paid or credited social insurance contribution.

A policy to introduce the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation from 2020 was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010. Before this, in January 2018, the Government agreed to a proposal that allows pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated using an interim “Total Contributions Approach” (also called the Aggregated Contribution Method) which includes up to 20 years of the newly introduced HomeCaring periods. The provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. For the first time, home caring periods prior to 1994 were acknowledged. Under the interim TCA, those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits/homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.

Since April 2019, all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Yearly Average and the interim Total Contributions Approach, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner. The elements which make up each method are set out in legislation.

The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. Its terms of reference included consideration of how long-term carers could be accommodated in the pension system.

The Commission has now concluded its work and has submitted its final report to me. The report itself is extremely detailed, running to several hundred pages, and covers a range of complex matters in relation to the Pensions system which will require very careful consideration.

It should be noted that if a person does not satisfy the conditionality to qualify for State Pension (Contributory), s/he may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% that of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, if his/her spouse is a State pensioner and has significant household means, his/her most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on his/her personal means, and amounting to up to 90% of a full contributory pension.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (115)

Imelda Munster

Question:

115. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45318/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security and has 24/7 cyber defence systems in place that react to any threat to its systems in the event of a cyber incident or security breach. My Department also works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Government CIO to ensure that best practice principles are followed with regard to ICT security.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (116)

Robert Troy

Question:

116. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is currently considering putting a further extension in place for participants on community employment and Tús schemes; and her views on the fact that there are currently very limited employment opportunities for participants to move on to and also limited opportunities for sponsor groups to recruit participants. [45327/21]

View answer

Written answers

Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme providing eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Tús is a community work placement initiative providing more short-term work opportunities for people who have been unemployed over a year to support their return to employment.

As the Deputy is aware, as with other sectors of society, CE and Tús schemes were impacted by the public health restrictions introduced since the onset of COVID-19. My priority was to ensure CE and Tús schemes and participants were fully supported during this period. While some schemes were able to maintain services while complying with public health restrictions, this was not always the case. In both scenarios, CE and Tús participants, whose contracts were due to end during periods of public health restrictions, had their contracts extended on a number of occasions, most recently up to end October 2021.

With the successful roll-out of the vaccine programme and in line with Government’s plans for the full re-opening of the economy, under 'Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting’ my priority and the priority of the Department is to have all CE and Tús schemes back providing normal services and supports to unemployed participants while delivering vital services to local communities.

As part of this return to normal operations, a phased and planned schedule of exits for CE and Tús participants, some of whose contracts have been extended for up to one year, will commence in November 2021. I can reassure the Deputy that the exits will be carried out in a phased basis between November and May 2022. This means that many participants’ contacts will be extended beyond the end of October.

These final contract extensions will provide CE and Tús participants with an opportunity to benefit from further work experience on CE and Tús and also for CE participants to complete any outstanding training. The coordinated and phased exit approach will also support the recruitment of new CE and Tús participants while ensuring the ongoing delivery of important local community services.

I note the concern raised in relation to employment opportunities and recruitment of participants. However, it should be noted that one of the measures included in the Pathways to Work Strategy announced by Government in July, 2021 was an increase in the capacity of the Public Employment Service in Intreo Offices and contracted services to further support jobseekers through the provision of job search advice and assistance. This increased capacity will support persons who finish on CE and Tús, over the coming months.

These additional resources will be central to meeting the increased demand for employment services, given the impact of the pandemic on employment including new candidate referrals to fill CE and Tús vacancies. I anticipate that with the full re-opening of the economy we will be able to restore scheme participant levels, in addition to new places being assigned to a number of CE and Tús schemes, delivering on a key commitment under Pathways to Work.

CE sponsoring authorities and Tús implementing bodies are encouraged by my Department to continue to promote the benefits of CE and Tús in their local communities. Jobseekers interested in participating on CE or Tús can also contact a case officer in their local Intreo Centre who will refer those eligible onto local CE or Tús programmes.

CE sponsoring authorities also advertise their vacancies on www.jobsireland.ie, the Department’s online job advertising and recruitment service for jobseekers and employers.

In order to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcome for participants, CE and Tús will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, including those whose employment has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (117)

Emer Higgins

Question:

117. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps taken by her Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within her Department who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; her plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45375/21]

View answer

Written answers

Civil Service departments and offices have been working in line with Government Covid-19 guidance, which provided for home working to continue where possible. As an essential service, staff in my Department have continued, throughout the pandemic, to work both on site in office premises and remotely to deliver for our customers across our nationwide network of offices.

The number of staff who are working remotely at any one time across all regions is approximately 3,300 or 50% of the total staffing number and has remained relatively constant through the Covid-19 restrictions.

My Department acted early in the pandemic to provide secure remote access to 100% of its staff, and this significantly changed how staff are working.

Early in the pandemic, the contract provider in place for my Department was unable to procure laptops to meet the Department's demand and the Department issued a new tender in line with procurement guidelines for another provider.

As such, all relevant DSP staff can access appropriate DSP systems securely on the Departments IT network to carry out the duties of their role and access to video conferencing.

The Government has now published Ireland’s plan for the next phase of the response to the pandemic - COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting. Under this plan, the advice to work from home unless absolutely essential to attend the workplace was withdrawn. This means that people could return to the workplace on a phased basis from 20th of September.

The Government has also confirmed its support of blended working in the Civil Service and, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is developing an overarching central framework to support consistency of implementation of blended working across the Civil Service.

This framework will inform the development of organization-level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas. In conjunction with this framework an application process is also currently being developed to allow staff to apply for blended working into the future.

In line with this approach, it is intended, subject to business needs and individual suitability, to make blended working part of the way that my Department will work on a more permanent basis. To this end, my Department will develop a blended working policy based on the framework being developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will aim to implement this policy in early 2022.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (118)

Emer Higgins

Question:

118. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps taken by agencies under the remit of her Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45392/21]

View answer

Written answers

Civil Service departments and offices have been working in line with Government Covid-19 guidance, which provided for home working to continue where possible.

The Government has now published Ireland’s plan for the next phase of the response to the pandemic - COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting. Under this plan, the advice to work from home unless absolutely essential to attend the workplace was withdrawn. This means that people could return to the workplace on a phased basis from 20th of September.

The Government has also confirmed its support of blended working in the Civil Service and, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is developing an overarching central framework to support consistency of implementation of blended working across the Civil Service.

This framework will inform the development of organization-level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.

The position in relation to the relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department is as follows:

Citizens Information Board (CIB): During the pandemic period, all employees of CIB worked remotely from home. In line with the DPER approach to supporting blended working in the public service, CIB has committed to developing a remote working policy in line with central arrangements.

Pensions Authority: All Pensions Authority employees continue to work primarily from home pending further guidance from DPER regarding a return to office. Currently all employees have full remote access to the Authority's data systems and all have access for video conferencing and online working.Where required, employees return to the office to undertake essential IT, administration and facilities management work. The Pensions Authority is currently developing it’s longer-term remote working policy and procedures in line with DPER guidance as it becomes available.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (119)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

119. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will be made on a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45465/21]

View answer

Written answers

Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested in-work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. Income that is assessable for WFP includes an applicant's and their spouse's average net weekly assessable weekly earnings from employment, plus any other household income such as income from self employment, other social protection payments etc.

An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 20 July 2021.

The Department wrote to the person concerned on 13 August 2021, to request further employment related information and documentary evidence. The requested information was not provided and the claim was refused on 04 September 2021.

The person concerned then submitted all required documentation via email on 05 September 2021. On receipt of the requested information from the person concerned, a review took place on 17 September 2021.

Following this review, the application was disallowed on the grounds that the weekly family income is not less than the prescribed income level for their family size.

The person concerned was notified of this revised decision in writing on 17 September 2021, and of the right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Banking Sector

Questions (120)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

120. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the further action that has been taken to address banking charges on overseas pensions; if elimination of charges on those receiving their pensions into bank accounts in Canada and the USA has been extended to all recipients; if there are intentions to refund the charges which have been made as a result of the making of all social protection payments through a bank (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45480/21]

View answer

Written answers

Since the Deputy last raised this matter in June, my Department has introduced further payment system changes to cater for some Canadian pensioners whose payments were being processed by more than one correspondent bank in Canada.

As previously stated, EFT payments to markets outside of Ireland where the sending bank is not a member of the domestic clearing system, such as the US or Canada, are processed as international cross border payments, also known as international wire transfers. Processing such payments as international wire transfers ensures that the sending bank complies with its national and international Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF) obligations.

In order to effect these international wire transfers in markets such as the US and Canada, the services of a correspondent bank - effectively an intermediary bank - are necessary where the sending bank is not a member of the local bank clearing system. This is the industry standard approach.

Correspondent banks will deduct charges from the payment amount to compensate for the cost of processing the payment and discharging their AML and CTF obligations.

Further process changes were implemented by my Department to ensure that all Irish Social Welfare payments to Canadian residents are now only handled by a single correspondent bank, thus limiting their potential exposure to foreign bank fees. Issues arising from clearing payments through the Canadian banking system are unique.

There has been no requirement to make additional payment process changes for other countries since June.

The Department continues to advise customers to seek improved fee arrangements from their own bank or with another financial institution and continues to provide the most up to date information it has on bank fees for pensioners living in Canada.

Many bank customers in both Canada and the United States can avail of reduced bank fees on pension payments, depending on the financial institution that they bank with and the type of account they hold. The Department of Social Protection is aware of a number of pensioners in both the United States and Canada who do not incur any bank charges due to the arrangements they have made with their own financial institutions.

Ultimately, my Department has no control over the fees charged by foreign banks on their own customers.

Parental Leave

Questions (121)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

121. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of parents that have taken parent’s leave and benefit since the scheme was extended from two to five weeks; and the uptake of parent’s benefit and leave since January 2021 to date. [45474/21]

View answer

Written answers

The number of parents who have applied for parents benefit since it was extended from two to five weeks in April 2021 to date (15th Sept) is 28,073.

The total number that have applied since January 2021 to date (15th Sept) is 35,928.

It should be noted that while a claim may be awarded in one month, the leave and benefit could be availed of at a different time, or over a period of months, as it is available to use one week at a time.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

State Pensions

Questions (122)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a chief appeals officer review of the decision on a State pension (contributory) backdating appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45617/21]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision.

Under social welfare legislation the decision of the Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. Following the submission of additional evidence, the Appeals Officer has undertaken a review of the decision in this case under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 which provides for a review of the decision in the light of new evidence or new facts. It is envisaged that the outcome of the review will be provided to the person concerned in the very near future.

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 on social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Questions (123)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of further information submitted for a review of a decision on a carer’s allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45618/21]

View answer

Written answers

Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.

It is a condition for receipt of CA that the applicant’s means are less than the statutory limit which in this case is €222.60 weekly.

Means are any income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide them with an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.

The evidence before the deciding officer included a valuation of a second property, capital and a small farm income. Following the means calculations and relevant disregards the person concerned was found to have means in excess of the statutory means limit of €222.60.

The application for CA was accordingly disallowed as his means were determined to exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was notified on 28 April 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 14 May 2021.

The outcome of the appeal is that it was disallowed and the original decision still stands.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Employment Schemes

Questions (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

124. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount the operation of JobPath has cost in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; if there has been an analysis of its efficacy, namely results and the number of persons successfully re-entering the workforce; and if a review of the programme has been considered in view of these findings. [45625/21]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

125. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria in place for determining eligibility to JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45628/21]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

126. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the decision-making process that takes place to determine if a person repeats the JobPath process or if they return to jobseeker's allowance. [45629/21]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

127. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions taken regarding the unspent funding that does not get allocated to applicants via the JobPath scheme; if it is returned to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45630/21]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

128. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the oversight systems in place to evaluate the performance of the JobPath; if it has annual figures of the proportion of applicants versus those who successfully regain employment or any other key performance indicator analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45631/21]

View answer

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

129. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the upper limit of financial support for training available to a person on JobPath versus a person on social welfare; if she will provide a comparative analysis and justification of these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45632/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 129, inclusive, together.

JobPath provides employment assistance and advice to the long-term unemployed on behalf of my Department. JobPath service providers are paid based on performance and, except for the initial registration fee, payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment that is verified by the Department and therefore, due to the payment model, there are no unspent funds. The initial set-up costs and the day to day running costs are borne by the service providers.

The final overall cost of JobPath will be determined by the number of people who engage with the service and the number who secure sustainable jobs. The roll out of JobPath began in 2015 and the yearly expenditure 2016 - 2020 is as set out in the table below. It should be noted that this is gross expenditure and does not consider the savings made in welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment.

Between July 2015 and the end of July 2021 some 312,966 jobseekers had commenced their engagement period with the JobPath service and in the same period, 70,740 jobseekers had commenced employment during their engagement period with JobPath.

See Table 2 for annual breakdown.

The OECD worked with my Department to measure the effectiveness of JobPath and the econometric review of JobPath, published by my Department in 2019, noted that in 2018 the weekly employment earnings of people who secured employment with the JobPath service are 17% higher than the weekly employment earnings of people who secured employment without the support of JobPath. Taken with the 26% improvement in employment outcomes in the same period, it means the overall positive employment/earnings impact is 37% in 2018 for those who are supported by the JobPath service. These findings indicate that jobseekers who engage with JobPath are more likely to get a positive employment outcome than those jobseekers who aren't supported by the service.

Additionally, the Comptroller and Auditor General produced a detailed report examining how the service was governed and found that the JobPath service was delivering in accordance with all aspects of the contract with my Department.

All jobseekers on the Live Register must be capable of; available for and actively seeking full time employment, they are also required to engage with the Department’s employment services. The Social Welfare (Consolidated) Act 2005, as amended, specifies that participation is mandatory. Therefore, jobseekers in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment are required to engage with the Department’s employment services whether the service is provided internally by an Intreo case officer or, externally by any of the Department’s contracted service providers.

All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection to one of the contracted public employment services, including the JobPath employment service. Selection for referral to the JobPath employment service is by means of random selection. Protocols for referral to JobPath currently preclude the selection of anyone who has already completed 2 x 52 weeks on the JobPath programme or any jobseeker who completed the programme within the previous 4 months. A person who has completed a year with the JobPath service; continues to meet the criteria for long term unemployment and if they are not engaged in other employment supports and services becomes eligible for selection for a second period of engagement with the JobPath service after 4 months.

JobPath providers have their own discretionary funds available to pay for training or other interventions; the decision to approve a request for funding is at the discretion of the JobPath provider. They will consider the duration, cost and relevance to the customer’s job goal preferences. The prevalence of employment opportunities in the sector will also be considered along with the likelihood that the customer secures full-time employment upon completion of the course.

Several courses are provided in-house while others are provided by specialist training providers including the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). There are no barriers to any participants pursuing training, including further education and training courses, provided they are relevant to their agreed personal progression plan.

All persons referred to the JobPath service are in receipt of a social welfare payment (Jobseeker’s payment) and therefore a comparative analysis between those engaged with JobPath and those in receipt of other social welfare payments is not available. My Department provides a wide range of educational and training supports to customers. Should the Deputy require additional and specific information on these supports I would be happy to provide it.

Table 1 : JobPath Expenditure 2016-2020

Year

Total Expenditure €

2016

€ 25.2m

2017

€ 57.4m

2018

€ 71.7m

2019

€ 58.6m

2020

€ 36.2m

Total Cost 2016-2020

€249.1m

Table 2 : Annual breakdown of referral numbers and job starts

referral numbers and job starts

Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 124.
Top
Share