SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 18th December) welcomed a statement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the JobPath employment activation scheme might not be needed in the future and they called for priority to be given to job activation measures that have a proven track record of delivering for communities. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins said, “Since its introduction in 2014, SIPTU representatives have consistently expressed great concern at the preference of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for a scheme like JobPath and the privatisation of employment services. It is clear that the cost of the scheme, when compared to existing schemes such as Job Clubs, LES, CE or TÚS reveal a severe lack of value for money for the taxpayer.” He added: “When we questioned the cost of JobPath, we were told it was sensitive information and could not be divulged. Yet, the first schemes to suffer are TÚS, which will experience approximately 20 redundancies in the short term. Job Clubs and LES contracts have also been threatened, as well as Community Employment Schemes which cannot get participants because they are sent to JobPath first.” “The sums never added up for JobPath. If the Government is serious about saving money for the tax-payer it must use a more cost effective community based model.”
SIPTU says shutting down of JobPath scheme long overdue
