Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
662. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the cost benefit analysis regarding the outsourcing of the JobPath programme will be published; if she has given consideration to keeping the scheme in-house rather than outsourcing it to a private company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50350/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the State’s Public Employment Service is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers.
My Department has for many years contracted with third parties for the delivery of a range of services/programmes/schemes. Contracts are in place with some 60 companies for the delivery of the JobPath, LES and Job Club services, and while these service elements are provided by third parties, jobseekers engaged with these services remain customers of the Department.
It is important to note that these services have been designed to augment and complement one another, not replace the service capacity available through the Departments Intreo offices.
For example, the capacity introduced by the JobPath service, aligned with the welcome reduction in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (from a peak of 15.2% in January 2012 to 6.0% in October 2017) has enabled the Department to reduce the caseload of LES mediators and thereby enhance the service being delivered by LES providers for jobseekers in general and for the long-term unemployed in particular (LES staff caseloads have been reduced, in line with international norms, to a maximum of 1:120).
An in-depth evaluation of the JobPath strand of the Department’s activation service has commenced data gathering. Completion of the evaluation is provisionally scheduled for the end of Quarter 3, 2018.
JobPath contracts are for a six year period and comprise two distinct phases: phase one entails four years of client referrals while phase two entails a two year ‘run off’ period during which time no additional clients will be referred.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
