Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
69. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress on the implementation of the Pathways to Work 2021-2025 national employment services strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48638/21]
View answerUnder Pathways to Work, Government's new employment services strategy, launched last July, my Department has put in place a wide range of measures to assist those out of work find new jobs. These measures, strengthened by increased capacity within the Public Employment Service, will allow us to provide those out of work with the guidance and support needed to re-enter the workforce.
Pathways to Work sets out 83 commitments on a whole-of-Government basis. The strategy is in the early stages of implementation, with progress expected to accelerate as the final stages of public health restrictions are lifted and with the phased transition of PUP recipients to jobseeker’s payments starting from next month.
Progress to date on implementation includes the launch of the new Work Placement Experience Programme which has 102 individuals who have started or are due to start in the near future. 2,600 out of the additional CE and Tús places have been assigned to existing employment support schemes. In addition, the capacity of the Intreo Public Service has already been expanded and is in place to provide employment support services to those unemployed as the economy and labour market starts to recover from the pandemic.
I am working closely with my colleague Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to ensure that jobseekers can avail of suitable training opportunities to assist them to access the skills needed to make their next step in their career. Under Pathways to Work, Minister Harris’s Department committed to providing 50,000 additional education and training places, supporting delivery of actions set out in the Apprenticeship Action Plan, and supporting 50,000 long-term unemployed into further education and training by 2025.
Furthermore, on October 26th we will begin the process of transitioning PUP recipients to a jobseeker’s payment. All recipients on that date in receipt of the €203 rate will be transitioned to jobseeker terms. Building on the initial engagements with PUP recipients over the summer, these persons will then formally enter my Department’s Intreo Public Employment Service, including that delivered by contracted service providers, where they can receive one-to-one engagement and guidance, access to employment supports, work placement and training opportunities. This process will also allow for the further rollout of Pathways to Work measures, specifically additional supports for those whose pre-pandemic job will not return and who will need additional support to re-enter the workforce.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
