Job Path

[Dame_Enda]

So now somebody earning €35,300 a year is rich?

Good man you.

Well they are richer than most workers in this country. The GDP per capita is misleading because it includes multinational profits that are later repatriated. I've heard that only half the workforce earns over €24000. BTW you mentioned the €35300 figure. I wouldnt call it rich but its not poor either. It might be hard to live on that if you have a large family or a big mortgage.

 

[SamsonS]

Well they are richer than most workers in this country. The GDP per capita is misleading because it includes multinational profits that are later repatriated. I've heard that only half the workforce earns over €24000. BTW you mentioned the €35300 figure. I wouldnt call it rich but its not poor either. It might be hard to live on that if you have a large family or a big mortgage.

Who are Turas Nua? Was this setup as a way to reward people who're in the golden circle? It seems very questionable to say the least.

Turas Nua is a partnership between Farm Relief Services and Working Links.

Emergency talks under way on future of company which administers half of JobPath

Job Path is due to finish by end 2019, no new clients are being referred. But I think it will be well into 2020 by the time its gone as people are supposed to be on it for 12 months, so Dept will be forking out if they end it early.

 

[Dame_Enda]

The negativism of all parties towards schemes designed to upskill workers (half a billion is unspent in the employers training fund, and unions fear upskilling schemes using new workers is just a form of cheap labour) just keeps people on the dole. This is particularly the case for middle aged or older people who might be less au fait with the latest gadgets of programming languages.

 

[Round tower]

The negativism of all parties towards schemes designed to upskill workers (half a billion is unspent in the employers training fund, and unions fear upskilling schemes using new workers is just a form of cheap labour) just keeps people on the dole. This is particularly the case for middle aged or older people who might be less au fait with the latest gadgets of programming languages.

Would agree, instead of say getting people safe pass, manual handling, and forklift training courses, they would only organise and pay for these courses if you were offered a job. Possibly if they were organise say the forklift course they would be competeing with FAS/ Solas who do a Warehouse Operative courses a couple times a year.

 

[Uganda]

Well they are richer than most workers in this country. The GDP per capita is misleading because it includes multinational profits that are later repatriated. I've heard that only half the workforce earns over €24000. BTW you mentioned the €35300 figure. I wouldnt call it rich but its not poor either. It might be hard to live on that if you have a large family or a big mortgage.

When you "heard" that only half the workforce earns more than €24,000, did it ever cross your mind that there are thousands of people working part-time and bits and pieces here and there?

About 950,000 income earners pay no income tax, at all.

 

[Dame_Enda]

When you "heard" that only half the workforce earns more than €24,000, did it ever cross your mind that there are thousands of people working part-time and bits and pieces here and there?

About 950,000 income earners pay no income tax, at all.

But they pay indirect taxes and charges, which have a disproportionate impact on their income. A lot of the welfare payments come back in part to the taxpayer in those taxes/charges.

 

[Uganda]

But they pay indirect taxes and charges, which have a disproportionate impact on their income. A lot of the welfare payments come back in part to the taxpayer in those taxes/charges.

This arguement is the same that used be made here to justify public sector pay. Lots of it comes back in tax etc.

If all this is so why not increase social welfare and ps pay to much higher levels - after all we'll get much more tax back.

 

[Big Phil]

It looks like the Department of Social Protection and the completely incompetent Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) have absolutely no respect for the privacy and existing legal rights of Irish citizens.

Data watchdog may prosecute Government over PSC use

Regina Doherty admits this may be the first time a regulator has been challenged

www.irishtimes.com

Public Services Card debacle headed for legal slapdown at our expense

Ireland has been here before, and it seems the State took nothing from the lesson

www.irishtimes.com

This reckless disregard for the privacy of Irish citizens and their personal information may explain some of the legally dubious behaviour of the Department of Social Protection with regard to their failed and legally suspect JobPath scheme.

The Irish people's trust in the Department of Social Protection and the discredited Minister for Social Protection is at an all time low!

 

[Big Phil]

Much more at stake than a little plastic card

Questioning the Data Protection Commissioner’s judgment gives lie to the contempt with which the State holds privacy rights and the office itself, writes Cianan Brennan

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Big Phil]

It's clear that the Data Protection Commissioner believes the Department of Social Protection are acting in bad faith (and not for the first time) when it comes to the privacy and legal rights of Irish citizens.

Data watchdog may prosecute Government over PSC use

Regina Doherty admits this may be the first time a regulator has been challenged

www.irishtimes.com

A spokesman for the commission would not comment on potential future legal action, but called for the report itself to be published immediately in the public interest.

 

[Big Phil]

Of course this is not the first time that the Department of Social Protection has acted illegally and undermined the legal right to privacy of Irish citizens. The Department of Social Protection is now at odds with several other government departments as well as the findings of the Data Protection Commissioner.

I think it is time that the now disgraced Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty was removed from office. I believe she has proved to be a comprehensive failure in her role as Minister for Social Protection. Regina Doherty has made the most vulnerable in Irish society even more vulnerable through her actions as minister.

Furthermore, Doherty seems intent on wasting over 1 million euro of taxpayers' money on a pointless and doomed legal battle with the office of the Data Protection Commissioner. This is all an attempt to protect the minister's bruised ego and to waste time until the next general election. It is a political move aimed at limiting damage to this failed minister at least until after the next general election.

Criminal sanctions possible if government ignores watchdog’s orders on Public Services Card

The long-awaited report into the card was published yesterday evening.

www.thejournal.ie

Government condemned for ‘childish’ response to Public Services Card report

Sinn Fein’s John Brady hit out at the Taoiseach during Leader’s Questions in the Dail.

www.irishexaminer.com

Public Services Card: Information retention has no impact on preventing welfare fraud - report

The Government’s policy of retaining its citizens’ personal information upon registration for a Public Services Card has no impact with regard to preventing welfare fraud, the PSC’s original purpose.

www.irishexaminer.com

The Irish Times view on the Government defiance of Data Protection Commissioner

Optics of State’s challenge to regulator of data-gathering multinationals are appalling

www.irishtimes.com

War of words over PSC may be headed for EU courts

Relations between the State’s largest department and its data regulator may have now been soured beyond repair over the PSC scandal, writes Cianan Brennan.

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Big Phil]

The Data Protection Commissioner's report into the Public Services Card. http://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/pr170919.pdf

 

[Big Phil]

JobPath scheme extended by one year to help with 'labour uncertainty' from Brexit

Controversy has overshadowed the scheme over the years due to complaints from users of the service.

www.thejournal.ie

 

[Big Phil]

Looks like a sign was erected comparing the Department of Social Protection's cynically named 'JobPath' bulling and harassment scheme to the dehumanising schemes of Nazi Germany.

The sign could also be comparing the lies told to Nazi concentration camp victims with the lies told to JobPath participants.

"Extremely offensive sign" at Cork Intreo office causes international upset

The official account of Auschwitz, a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, has tweeted pictures of Cork’s Intreo office demanding for a makeshift sign to be removed.

www.echolive.ie

"Extremely offensive sign" at Cork Intreo office causes international upset
Roisin Burke

The official account of Auschwitz, a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, has tweeted pictures of Cork’s Intreo office demanding for a makeshift sign to be removed.

“Jobpath Macht Frei” was pasted onto the glass above the door of the social welfare centre on Hanover Street, a take on the phrase ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ - Work sets you free, that appeared at the entrance of many concentration camps during the Nazi era.

Jobpath is an Intreo scheme for long term unemployed that attempts to assist them in securing and sustaining full or part-time employment.
Tweeting from their official Twitter account, the Auschwitz Memorial @Auschwitzmuseum which preserves the Auschwitz site wrote: “ @welfare_ie "Arbeit macht frei" was a false, cynical illusion the SS (Schutzstaffel) gave to prisoners of the #Auschwitz camp.

“Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. “It's painful to see this symbol 'interpreted' over 'Cork Employment Services Office'. Please remove it.” According to the Irish Polish Society, the sticker was noticed by two Polish individuals who were visiting the centre on Wednesday and they alerted the manager to the presence of the offensive saying, posted above the door. The sticker was removed in 20 minutes.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection confirmed to The Echo that the incident occurred saying “an extremely offensive sign” had been placed on the outside of its office in Hanover Street, Cork by “unknown persons” Wednesday afternoon and was removed immediately.
“The Department very much regrets that this happened at one of its offices and it has reported the matter to the Gardaí.”

 

[Big Phil]

Has Minister Regina Doherty broken the law? Regina Doherty latest to be connected to Dáil voting controversy

 

[blinding]

Has Minister Regina Doherty broken the law? Regina Doherty latest to be connected to Dáil voting controversy

If we could get the Brits to prosecute her ( for old times sake )

It would be Regina v Regina .

 

[cranberry1]

Another stupid idea from government. Provide well paid jobs and people will work. The only "jobs" available at present are mickey mouse minimum wage and CE nonsense. People aren't "slackers" that's just the establishment line. They want to provide a wage for their family and make a contribution towards society pay them properly ffs.

Just talking about this today as a matter of fact , are there any real paying jobs in Ireland apart from the government ones .

 

[Big Phil]

Retaining 3.2m citizens’ data risks EU law breach

The Department of Social Protection could be in breach of European law for retaining the historical data of 3.2m holders of the public service card (PSC) in an attempt to stop future welfare fraud.

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Round tower]

I was on the dole for over 10 years, last Sept. i got part-time work of 24 hours per week with drawwing social welfare for the othe 2 days. It wworks out well as i have to look after my elderly mother. In Nov., i got clled up for the third time by Seetec, the other 2 i did not get anything except travelling expenses for 3 or 4 interviews for jobs i did not get.
I missed the last 3 apointments, i contacted the citizzen advice bureu and they said that Seetec are right, that the Dail passed a motion that payements could not be reduced or stopped. I have spoken to my employer who are happy with me working the 3 days a week in the medium ter. In my area their is 3 or 4 women who are working 3 days a week and claiming SW for the other 2.
Last Sept. i could have gone down a different route to claiming carers allowance for looking after my elderly mother, which would have cost the state more.

 

[Big Phil]

Employees buy JobPath operator Seetec
By Barry J.Whyte
Sunday Business Post
12 January 2020

Seetec, a British company that has been paid €100 million to help run the state's controversial job activation scheme, JobPath, for the long-term unemployed, has been bought by its own employees. The company announced last week that its founder, Peter Cooper, had sold 51 per cent of his 80 per cent holding in the company to an Employee Ownership Trust for the benefit of the company's 2,535 employees. An existing employee benefit trust already holds 18 per cent of the company's shares.

In a statement, the company's managing director John Baumback said: "Seetec's future is now in the bands of our people, certain in the knowledge that we cannot be sold to the highest bidder."

Seetec is the owner of Seetec Employment & Skills Ireland, which is one of two private operators running the state's JobPath scheme. Seetec provides services in the west, north midlands, north east, north west, and Dublin.

JobPath has been controversial. Figures released last year showed that of the nearly 230,000 people referred to the service, only 14,617 held down a job for over a year. Meanwhile, figures revealed by the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee show that some jobseekers have been referred to the programme three or four times.

The Comptroller ands Auditor General published a review of the scheme for 2017, and found that the number of participants who had sustained jobs for a year "was broadly in line with the department's own performance in previous years". A report by Ray Griffin, a sociologist with the Waterford Unemployment Research Collective, said the figure was around the same rate as would have been expected in the absence of any scheme at all.

In Britain, Seetec has annual revenues of £150 million, while the Irish company had revenues of €26.5 million in 2018 and a profit of €4.5 million. The previous year its revenues were €12.2 million, and it registered a loss for the year of €4.4 million, down from €8.6 million the year before.

In Britain, Seetec has contracts to run portions of Britain's parole service and contracts with Britain's Department for Work and Pensions. Cooper retains a 29 per cent stake in the business and will step down from his role as executive chairman, the company said in a press release.

Employees buy JobPath operator Seetec | Business Post

Seetec has annual revenues of £150 million in Britain, while its Irish arm had revenues of €26.5 million in 2018

www.businesspost.ie