Turas Nua

Tuinny

I received a letter "inviting" me to a Turas Nua meeting this week. I am expected to attend this meeting in a center over 60k away from me even though they have a center less than 20k from where I live. I am not driving at the minute (currently have learners permit and taking lessons) and there is no public transport to the centre they want me to go to. I have rang to state my case and said I have no problem with taking part I just have no way of getting there. I asked if I could attend the centre nearer to me as there is a bus route and many other transport options. They said there is nothing they can do about it and I will just have to find a way there...they even said to ask someone I know to take a day off work to drive me there!

Has anybody else experienced anything like this? I don't know what to do as I genuinely can't find a way to get there and from reading about the scheme it seems that I might have to get there 2-3 times a week!

mp22

Start by writing to them and call into your local welfare office and ask them for guidance on what to do.

All Americans Sound Camp

My advice is to call into your local welfare office in person and explain your case.

nolander

I have had some "unusual" experiences with turas nua. I broke my mobile and asked the case officer if she could respond by email to me or a hard copy because I couldnt afford a new one and I was told that her system didnt allow her to respond to the emails I was sending. the emails were to do with a medical issue and I also sent my email. This sounded odd as I have heard private companies not receiving emails from outside sources for security reasons but never an inability to respond to emails that they do get. I caught a glimpse of her emails while I was in there and I cant say for certain but it looked like a google based system. I get the impression this may be an unwritten policy by them. Anyone else get this?

myappeal

Hi Tunny,

The issue of transport is a difficult one in some situations like this... however, if you are willing to engage and make the effort this cannot be held against you. You cannot choose the office you go to, its not optional.... so you cannot choose to go to a closer office because it suits or is more convenient... but, if distance and access to transport are an issue, particularly where cost could be a major issue it is reasonable to suggest a workable alternative.

These services operate under contract from the Department of Social Protection, and must act appropriately and in accordance with tenets of due process, natural justice and fair procedure - note the fair procedure. Other posters are correct. You cannot be penalised in these circumstances.

You should put your position in writing and submit it to them, and forward a copy to your DSP office. You should outline all the transport options available and why you cannot avail of them in this instance, and how/why you can attend another centre within reason. There are genuine reasons of time and cost involved that can be prohibitive - and are genuine factors. Ask for a decision in writing and advise them that you are aware of your rights in this instance.

Do a google search for 'Working for Work' and INOU, and look at pages 83 onwards in the pdf you find.

JobPath – Transportation
Where issues of access to transport to attend meetings with personal advisers, or to engage in training or job searching activities, arise the JobPath provider may be able to assist and support the participant. Support may vary subject to location and available services. You should discuss such issues directly with your JobPath personal adviser.

JobPath – Complaints
All participants on JobPath have a right to be treated fairly and in a professional manner. In accordance with this undertaking, a formal complaints process is available to JobPath participants.

JobPath Providers:
The JobPath providers, Seetec and Turas Nua, have their own internal complaints processes for use by service users. Both companies also provide regular opportunities to provide feedback on the service they have received through online surveys and informal discussion with their staff. Outcomes and actions of any feedback will be
communicated to you.

When they receive a written complaint they will acknowledge receipt of it within specified number of days, providing a reference number for your information, and will aim to resolve complaints within a stated timeframe.

Department of Social Protection:
If you have engaged with the providers own internal complaints process and you are not satisfied with the
processes or procedures, or if you feel you cannot use their internal complaints process you can make a complaint directly to the Departmentof Social Protection. All such complaints will be fully investigated by the Department and each case will be examined on its merits, and appropriate action will be taken where necessary.

JobPath – Sanctions
All decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements while on JobPath will be taken only by appropriate officials of the Department of Social Protection, and not by JobPath personal advisers or the JobPath companies themselves.
The JobPath companies may neither recommend nor apply a sanction to a jobseeker. They are entitled to submit cases, duly evidenced, for consideration of a sanction by the Department of Social Protection. The process for sanction -
ing clients, who do not engage with the JobPath activation process, is exactly the same as the process for clients who fail to engage with the Department’s own activation service for Jobseekers.

ruraldweller1

Hi,my husband is on Job seekers for over a year.He received a letter of "invitation" from Turas Nua to attend a centre 23 km away.He attended on a Tuesday and was told he'de have to return on thursday again. He told them he had issues with signing a declaration and consent form they asked him to sign, namely

"should i find employment while I am participating in on the Jobpath programme,I give my consent for Turas Nua or a representative of the DSP to contact my employer so that the details of my employment can be confirmed"

He also had an issue with the fact that DSP shared his data inc telephone number with Turus Nua which is a consortium of FRS (Irish) and Working Links (another UK company).

he was told to take the document away and to think about it.
He told them he couldnt return again on thursday of the same week as we have 3 in primary school and a baby at home and one car which the wife needs for school runs.
he was told to take the document away and to think about it. On thursday when he went to the post office to collect his jobseekers his payment was not there. he rang the DSP and asked why he was cut off without warning.they said he wasnt cut off! but to come in to DSP office to discuss his failure to co operate with Turas Nua.
My husband worked hard/paid tax, is a third level graduate and had completed a springboard course in June of this year which was suggested to him by Obair while attending there! We have as number of kids under 10 and a mortgage.My husband is the least lazy person I ever met. He has applied for so many jobs.He wants to work.he doesnt want to sit a computer in an office 23 km away 3 times a week searching the web for jobs and doing personality and motivation tests. Bullying harrassment lack of empathy...all while we are being told mental illness and suicide are increasing in Ireland.

nolander

my advice having had some dealings with turas nua is to be very cautious. it is a commissions based system of a private company and peoples circumstance can be a side issue of little importance. they probably put your husband down as a "no show" even though he contacted them. he needs to get a direct email address for his case worker. So that when he can't get to an appointment there is a time stamped record that he made contact and the reason for it no being able to make it. Forget about phone calls as this is easy to say it never happened. hope this helps.

mp22

As above the rules are carved in stone,you need to be seen to co-operate.

X22Report

Went in to my twice weekly appointment this morning with Turas Nua in Waterford only to find out my adviser has left thats the second one since I started in May of this year

BlueBird2

Please if anybody can help me with advise, I am in difficult situation.I am with Turas Nua just a bit over a month .My personal adviser sending me to motivation courses (4 of them) but all of them afternoon ones.I have 2 kids in primary school they finish at 2.I am the one who collects them from school as my husband works 1 hour away from home....he can not take any time off work as he used all his annual leave,and have no days left....all I ask this lady to help me with after school support....as we can not afford to pay full price to playschool minders .we are very tight with money as have a mortgage. Anyway my personal adviser told me there is nothing she can do for me...that if i do not attend courses, they will cut me off.She send me to DSP to ask them about child care,but they replied it is not our business anymore because you are with Turas Nua.I am so upset and worried what do I have to do with my kids???They keep saying what would you do if I would get a job?But it is completely different,you get paid in job and you can cover you expencies. Here it is only course...I dont know what to do .???Please if somebody know any info about my issue ...can the Turas Nua provide after school care?Thanks

mp22

Yes posts have been deleted.
Here are a couple of items which may be of interest to posters

5. This is not a forum for critiscizing Government Departments or Semi-State Bodies.

5a - 5 includes the policies of the Government Departments of Semi-State Bodies

They are from the forum charter...............

mp22

bodhrandude

BlueBird2 wrote: »

Please if anybody can help me with advise, I am in difficult situation.I am with Turas Nua just a bit over a month .My personal adviser sending me to motivation courses (4 of them) but all of them afternoon ones.I have 2 kids in primary school they finish at 2.I am the one who collects them from school as my husband works 1 hour away from home....he can not take any time off work as he used all his annual leave,and have no days left....all I ask this lady to help me with after school support....as we can not afford to pay full price to playschool minders .we are very tight with money as have a mortgage. Anyway my personal adviser told me there is nothing she can do for me...that if i do not attend courses, they will cut me off.She send me to DSP to ask them about child care,but they replied it is not our business anymore because you are with Turas Nua.I am so upset and worried what do I have to do with my kids???They keep saying what would you do if I would get a job?But it is completely different,you get paid in job and you can cover you expencies. Here it is only course...I dont know what to do .???Please if somebody know any info about my issue ...can the Turas Nua provide after school care?Thanks

BlueBird2 I wish I could help but make an appointment to go and see someone at Citizen's Information, someone should be able to advise you there. It depends where you are. I'm based in Galway so there are a few support places out there like Galway Peoples' Resource Centre, I dare say there is something like this in Dublin too, folk that can communicate between you and the DSP or whoever. I hope you can get it sorted out.

TepinTheGreat

BlueBird2 wrote: »

Please if anybody can help me with advise, I am in difficult situation.I am with Turas Nua just a bit over a month .My personal adviser sending me to motivation courses (4 of them) but all of them afternoon ones.I have 2 kids in primary school they finish at 2.I am the one who collects them from school as my husband works 1 hour away from home....he can not take any time off work as he used all his annual leave,and have no days left....all I ask this lady to help me with after school support....as we can not afford to pay full price to playschool minders .we are very tight with money as have a mortgage. Anyway my personal adviser told me there is nothing she can do for me...that if i do not attend courses, they will cut me off.She send me to DSP to ask them about child care,but they replied it is not our business anymore because you are with Turas Nua.I am so upset and worried what do I have to do with my kids???They keep saying what would you do if I would get a job?But it is completely different,you get paid in job and you can cover you expencies. Here it is only course...I dont know what to do .???Please if somebody know any info about my issue ...can the Turas Nua provide after school care?Thanks

Some of the Turas Nua employees are ex-attendees of the program. Says a lot.

05eaftqbrs9jlh

TepinTheGreat wrote:

Some of the Turas Nua employees are ex-attendees of the program. Says a lot.

I know someone who is taking a very rudimentary pharmacy course. She's been out of work for decades, she's just finished rearing three children. I spent yesterday evening explaining to her that the reason 70% of her course are just doing it to continue getting their dole is because it's a SELF-PERPETUATING SYSTEM. The dole "residents" are there to add sixty quid to their weekly earnings, the disenfranchised lecturer is there to boost his own ego and self-perpetuate. It's just a shame that there's no system of distinguishing people who legitimately want to advance into the career and those who are just padding out their unemployment portfolio. At least six people on the course are being satirised by the people who are there by obligation. :l