Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has welcomed the decision by Fianna Fáil to introduce a Bill to prevent Jobpath, the labour activation initiative, from denying participants from taking up a place on a Community Employment (CE) Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) or the Tús Scheme.
Pat the Cope added the aim of the legislation which is being introduced by Willie O’Dea is to give a legal entitlement to a person taking part in the JobPath activation programme to opt out of said programme in order to take part in a Community Employment Scheme, a Tús Scheme or a Rural Social Scheme, in circumstances where a place on any of these schemes becomes available.
Currently dozens of participants each year are denied a place on these social employment schemes due to the fact they are on Jobpath at the time such a vacancy arises.
Deputy Gallagher said “I and my colleagues have been inundated with complaints from people who feel that they are being unfairly coerced into JobPath but would prefer to take up place on a CE, RSS or Tús scheme, which in many instances is more appropriate and suitable to their needs.”
He added that the Bill will also prevent JobPath, which is a payment by results model and operated on behalf of the Department by two private companies, from side-lining CE, RSS and Tús Schemes, which are an integral to the social fabric of communities the length and breadth of the country.
He said “Fianna Fáil is determined to put a halt to Fine Gael’s right wing and ill-conceived activation agenda and reverse the damage that is being done to these vital schemes by JobPath.
“I fully acknowledge the massive contribution that schemes such as CE, RSS and Tús offer rural communities right across Donegal and furthermore these schemes are of tremendous benefit o participants and to the community at large and we are determined to safeguard them.”