The Minister Responds – We finally receive answers from the Minister and the campaign makes two allies in Deputy Willie Penrose and Deputy John Brady
Since sending our letter to Minister Varadkar, there has been no direct response from the Department, however, Labour’s Spokeperson for Social Protection, Willie Penrose and his Sinn Féin’s equivalent, John Brady have taken our fight directly to the Minister.
Willie Penrose raised the issue in the Dáil Eireann on the back of our letter in the Priority Questions section of the Chamber’s order of business, the frank exchange between Deputy Penrose and the Minister is viewable here .
Deputy Brady pursued the Minister with written questions on the back of our letter, which I have posted below.
We are grateful for both these allies, who have taken great interest in our cause to date and have promised to continue to help us going forward. JobPath and the lack of referrals to Community Employment will see that death knell of crucial community services such as youth projects and non profit creches. We need to fight this privatisation of our welfare state and we need to protect our services particularly, at a time when the economy is recovering.
Below is Deputy Brady’s questions and Minister Varadkar’s answers, the comments in bold are my own.
Eoghan Brunkard
Question No: 350 Ref No: 17622-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to phase out provision of crèche and play school service provision by community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
My Department introduced a new Community Employment (CE) childcare strand in 2013 under which there is a dedicated childcare training programme leading to a major award at QQI Level 5 for CE participants who work directly with children. The QQI Major Level 5 Award is the entry-level requirement to work as a basic practitioner in childcare. This has led to rationalised entry requirements, defined standards of achievement, a career progression path, and a structure for CE workers in Early Years Services. These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market. This will improve the career path for participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare. There are no plans to make further changes to the childcare strand of CE at present. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
This does not address the issue of CE participants not being counted as actual practitioners in the room. They still do not count towards numbers and eventually CE dependent crèches will find it increasingly hard to employ people already accredited with QQI Level 5 awards in Childcare to keep their adult to child ratio as referrals are practically non existent. It may not be the stated policy of the Minister to end CE participation in community creches but it will be the outcome. Is it the learner fund he is referring to? It does not allow CE Staff, as they already have a training budget, in which case the Minister is in error.
Question No: 351 Ref No: 17623-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide additional resourcing for QQI level six training for community employment participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
A training grant is allocated to Community Employment schemes in respect of all approved places on a “per-place, per annum” basis. Training is identified in accordance with a tailored individual learning plan (ILP) compiled by the CE supervisor with the participant, given the participant’s training needs and employment goals. Any proposed training that exceeds the budget allocated is assessed based on the value of the training provided to furthering the employment prospects of the individual. There is flexibility that can be applied in the approval of training rates, particularly when the training leads to a QQI major award, including up to level six, e.g. in Childcare.
All expenditure must be accounted and vouched for by way of receipts. It is the responsibility of the scheme to ensure that they have obtained the best price and that they have achieved value for money. A CE scheme sponsor should contact their local DSP office if they have particular issues and the matter will be reviewed on a case by case basis. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
The system as it currently stands, no increase in training budget and ad hoc allowance of increasing budgets for certain individuals at the discretion of the Department.
Question No: 352 Ref No: 17624-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the additional supplement provided to community employment participants in view of increased transport costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
The Deputy may be aware that under Budget 2017 every Community Employment (CE) participant received an extra €5 per week with effect from 13th March 2017 and those in receipt of an increase for a qualified adult also received an additional €3.30 or €2.10 depending on the individual circumstances. There are no plans to provide further increases to CE participants at this time. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
No increases.
Question No: 353 Ref No: 17625-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is his department’s policy objective to place jobseekers in jobpath in preference over community employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
Activation supports are provided for customers of my Department who are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. The activation services and schemes are provided directly by the Intreo Case Officers; by private companies such as the JobPath companies, the Local Employment Services and Job Clubs or through Community Employment Schemes such as CE and Tús. The aim of activation is to help the jobseeker secure and sustain full-time employment.
My Department does not have a policy of referring jobseekers to JobPath in preference to CE Scheme. However, Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to allow the scheme and service providers time to work with the participants to achieve the best outcome for the person, it also ensures that the best use is made of places available across all the activation supports available.
The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers that have been unemployed for at least a year; Selection for JobPath is based on a random selection of eligible jobseekers who are not engaged with another activation support at the time of selection. Where a person is selected for JobPath, and they already have received an offer of a placement on a CE Scheme which is commencing within four weeks, my Department will facilitate the customer to take up the placement, similarly a person on a CE Scheme will not be available for selection for JobPath until their placement on the CE scheme is complete.
This does not appear to be happening from what we have heard from the different projects working with in our campaign. Why are referrals so low? Why are referrals so high for JobPath?
Each person referred to the JobPath service is allocated a personal advisor who provides intensive individual support and assistance. When a jobseeker with JobPath finds employment, they will be supported by the JobPath Company for at least the first 13 weeks and up to a year until they are settled in the job. This is in contrast to the Community Employment schemes that provide part-time employment and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including those on long term unemployment payments. Community Employment does not, nor is intended to provide full-time sustainable employment. The referral period for the JobPath service is typically for a year. At the end of the 52 weeks, Jobseekers who have not been successful in finding suitable employment may, subject to an assessment by an Intreo case officer, apply for other activation supports such as CE. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No: 354 Ref No: 17626-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection the precise criteria required for a person to transfer from jobpath to community employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to ensure that the scheme and service providers have sufficient time to work with the participants and also that the best use is made of the available places. In general jobseekers are not transferred to Community Employment (CE) once they are referred to JobPath.
However, jobseekers who on the date of their referral to JobPath already have a written offer with a start datewithin four weeks for CE will be facilitated to take up the placement. Additionally, in a small number of exceptional cases, which are assessed on a case by case basis, my Department may facilitate a customer to move from one activation support to another. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Once again, this does not appear to be happening from what we have anecdotally heard from the different projects. In can be taken then, in general, that this is a “no” to being able to move from one scheme to another unless in exceptional circumstances.
Question No: 355 Ref No: 17627-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is his department’s policy to replace local employment service mediators; if so, his plans to replace them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
In 2016 LES providers were asked to increase the frequency with which they engage with jobseekers to enhance the quality of the services they provide. To facilitate this more intensive engagement, caseloads were reduced. The number of local employment service mediators also increased from (circa) 163 in 2015 to (circa) 170 in 2017 and there is no plan to replace them.
Ireland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by my Department and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies i.e. the JobPath companies, the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs.
The LES engages primarily with long-term unemployed jobseekers but may also engage with short-term unemployed jobseekers where a local need arises. Jobseekers are referred directly to the LES by Intreo offices. Jobseekers may also request services from the LES on a “walk-in” basis. Other groups, to whom the LES offer services, include people with a disability, lone parents, early school leavers, qualified adults, ex-offenders, members of the travelling community and refugees. Where these people initially present at an Intreo office they may be sent to the LES for activation services.
For 2017 my Department has contracted 22 private contractors for the provision of LES in 26 locations. The funding for LES has been maintained at €20m and there is no plan at this time to reduce expenditure.
Prior to the introduction of Intreo and JobPath my Department had a total of (circa) 300 case officers (including LES) working with over 460,000 people on the live register, i.e. a caseload of over 1,500 people :1 Case Office against international benchmark of less than 200:1. My Department has increased the number of case officers to approx. 1,250, including i Intreo and JobPath services. With the reduction in the unemployment rate from a peak of 15% (Feb 2012) to 7.2% (Jan 2017) and the live register now at approx. 276,000 people, the average caseload today is around 230:1. My Department is seeking to maintain LES and JobPath caseload ratio of 100/125:1 which is in line with OECD caseload benchmarks.
Question No: 366 Ref No: 17876-17
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a two stream approach to community employment; the changes that are planned in this regard; the responsibilities this will place on schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– John Brady.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017.
R E P L Y
Minister for Social Protection (Leo Varadkar T.D):
As the Deputy may be aware, I published the Report of the Analysis of the Community Employment Programme on Friday 7th April. The Analysis of the Community Employment Programme was conducted by the Department and looks at Community Employment (CE) and the other work programmes.
Work schemes offer opportunities for the long term unemployed to gain valuable work experience and participate in training while they are paid an equivalent to their social welfare entitlement in addition to a top up payment. Participants work for 19½ hours per week. Work opportunities are within communities and, in the main, support the provision of valuable community services in areas of disadvantage.
The report recommends that all CE places should be categorised into one of two strands, either activation or social inclusion. This categorisation will be based primarily on the work experience element of the place. Regard for local labour market conditions and training and education opportunities will also be a factor.
Department officials will be consulting with scheme sponsors and other stakeholders over the coming weeks in preparation for the new arrangements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.