Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
428. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the JobPath scheme in 2016 that have been placed in permanent employment by each of the operators of the scheme, namely Turas Nua and Seetec, since the scheme was initiated. [10050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in job sustainment fees to the operators of the JobPath scheme in 2016 since it was rolled out, namely Turas Nua and Seetec respectively. [10051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid in registration fees in 2016 to the operators of the JobPath scheme, namely Turas Nua and Seetec respectively, since the scheme was rolled out. [10052/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons that have been referred to the JobPath scheme in 2016 since it was introduced. [10053/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 to 431, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua.
To date, 78,000 people have started their engagement period with the service.
The service was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016, as a result the first groups of participants have only recently completed their engagement period with the service.
It is important to note that jobseekers may be supported through the service for up to 30 months - under the service jobseekers have access to a personal adviser (PA) who works with them over two phases. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. In addition to the two phases Jobseekers may also undertake training while with the service and this may extend the period the jobseeker is supported through the service. It will take time therefore to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period with the service) for complete and robust outcome data to be available.
However from 2017, the Department will publish a report on the performance of the service on a quarterly basis, with the first such report having just been published recently (17th of January).
The initial data on the impact of the service is encouraging. Employment outcome data shows that compared to people who did not take part in the service, people who availed of the service were 23% more likely to have started a job (as of October 2016). The difference appears to be more marked for very long-term unemployed people, with those out of work for more than three years some 44% more likely to have found a job if they engaged with the service.
Given that only a small number of people have completed their full engagement period with the service these results can only be treated as indicative, nevertheless they are encouraging.
As the number of people who have completed their engagement period with the service increases the department will be in a position to provide greater granularity in the reports to be published each quarter this year.
The first report (with results together with a copy of the independent customer satisfaction survey findings for both companies) is available on the department’s website at – http://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath-performance-report-January-2017.pdf.
The service is being delivered through a payment by results model and all initial costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid an initial registration fee and thereafter job sustainment fees only. A registration fee may be claimed when a jobseeker has developed a personal progression plan. Job sustainment fees are payable only for each 13 week period of sustained employment, up to a maximum of 52 weeks (i.e. 4 payments). The Department was careful in designing the service to ensure that payments to contractors are conditional on people not just finding a job, but finding sustainable employment. The total payments to the companies amounted to €26.8m in 2016.
It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the current contracts in place and any future procurement that may be undertaken.
