Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1489. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that has been carried out on the level of activity in each Intreo office in respect of the number and percentage of persons that they have interviewed in each of the past three years; the actions that have been taken on these interviews; the training and job placement rates, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35211/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLabour market policy is guided by the Pathways to Work Strategy, which seeks to ensure that as many jobs as possible go to people on the Live Register. In line with this objective and as part of the activation agenda, Case Officers employed by my Department deliver activation and case management services to jobseekers across the network of Intreo Centres. Case Officers by their proactive engagement with jobseekers and through the provision of a range of employment supports, encourage and support Jobseekers in their efforts to find and sustain employment.
Since July 2015, when the Activation and Case Management System was introduced, a record of all stages of the activation interactions between the Case Officer and the jobseeker is captured. Following the registration for a jobseeker payment, the obligatory activation journey starts with the initial Group Information Session, the purpose of which is to outline the nature and purpose of the activation process and provide useful jobseeker information. This is followed, typically within a week, by a One to One meeting between the Case Officer and the Jobseeker. The purpose of the One to One meeting is to agree and complete a Personal Progression Plan (PPP). The PPP sets out a series of jointly agreed steps and actions to help the Jobseeker improve their job prospects and achieve their employment goal. The PPP sets out the individual needs of each jobseeker and will be tailored to their personal circumstances. Subsequently, for those remaining on the live register, Activation Review Meetings (ARMs) are held at defined times after the PPP is agreed in order to discuss and review progress on the actions agreed in the PPP.
While systemized data on training, job placement rates and the percentage breakdown of those interviewed in respect of each Intreo centre is not readily available, details of the level of activation engagement activity since July 2015 to date are contained in the following table (1). These figures do not include clients who availed of employment supports outside of the INTREO service.
Table (1) Intreo Activation Meetings
|
Year |
Group Information Session Number of Attendees |
Follow on 1:2;1 Meeting Number of Attendees |
Activation Review Meeting Number of Attendees |
Total number of Attendees |
|
From July 2015 to end of year |
22,9321 |
12,793 |
18,900 |
54,625 |
|
2016 (full year) |
90,125 |
63,114 |
92,944 |
246,183 |
|
2017 to date |
40,211 |
31,281 |
55,956 |
127,448 |
|
Total |
153,268 |
107,188 |
167,800 |
428,256 |
It is worth noting that Case Officers are not solely confined to providing activation services to those on the live register but also provide a service to other cohorts such as people with a disability, who wish to avail of activation and employment supports on a voluntary basis.
Although the labour market situation is improving considerably as the recovery continues, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate unemployed people find and sustain employment. Ensuring that as many as possible of these jobs are taken up by unemployed people continues to be a major overarching objective of the activation policies set out in Pathways to Work 2016-2020.
