Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
331 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date on the development of a case management approach to the pathways to work scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31765/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pathways to Work Programme comprises five strands, one of which is a commitment to have more regular and on-going engagement with our unemployed customers with a view to assisting them in their return to work. The National Employment and Entitlements Service established within the Department will integrate the benefit payments services of the Department with the employment services formerly with FÁS. This integrated approach is based on a case management approach with the objective of providing a more customised and personal service to customers.
It is the intention of the Department to profile all new applicants for unemployment payments with a view to assessing their probability of exit from the Live Register. This profiling process is currently being rolled out across the network of the Department's offices and will be completed by the end of October. This is the first step in developing a case management approach across the network of the Department's offices.
The profile of the customer will determine the next set of interactions with them. These interactions will include a group engagement session to set out both the entitlements and responsibilities of the customer and to schedule them for one to one support. The group engagement process is underway in a large number of locations and is scheduled to reach the target of 30,000 people receiving this service by the end of 2012.
Targeted one to one engagement with customers based on their profile is being rolled out as part of the new NEES offices. The development of a case management approach will be an iterative process with improvements being developed as the roll out continues across the network of the Department's Offices. Four offices are currently being prepared to deliver a fully integrated service in Arklow, Sligo, Tallaght and Parnell Street, Dublin. A further 10 offices are scheduled to deliver the service by the end of the year.
