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The latest JobPath figures show over €182 million has been spent on the programme in the last four years. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Only 6% of people have held down a job for over a year on JobPath

Over 226,851 people have engaged with the government’s JobPath service in the last four years.

OF THE 226,851 people referred to the government’s JobPath service, only 14,617 (6.44%) held down a job for over a year. 

The latest figures released show that in the four years that the scheme has been operational, the government has spent over €182 million on it.

Of the 226,851, only 74,000 are now engaged with the scheme, according to the JobPath figures. 

They also show that under the government initiative, 51,548 people commenced work, but over 101,303 people who were referred to JobPath in the last four years got nothing from the scheme.

JobPath is an employment activation service provided to people who have been on the live register for more than 12 months and are trying to secure and sustain full-time paid employment or self-employment.

The two private companies employed by the State, Turas Nua and Seetec, to operate the scheme have received €75.7 million and €73.3 million respectively to carry out its work.

The two contractors are paid to work with both the jobseeker and employers to identify employment opportunities. They receive payments when someone who has taken part in the scheme gains proven employment.

Period of employment

JobPath figures for the last four years show that of the 51,548 people who commenced work under the programme, the majority only stayed in a job for a period of 13 weeks (31,186).

A total of 24,234 people sustained work for 26 weeks, while 18,808 sustained work for 39 weeks.

Just 14,617 people sustained work for 52 weeks.

Since the rollout of the scheme, questions have been raised about the payments the private companies get in relation to the number of jobseekers on the books. 

The latest figures show that 27,830 people were referred to JobPath more than once, with 27,476 referred twice. A total of 354 people were referred on the programme three times

Sustainment payments are made to the companies over the course of a year in respect of each person who secures employment having engaged in the JobPath process.

TheJournal.ie revealed last year that the private companies contracted by the State to run the scheme are entitled to €3,718 for every jobseeker that gains sustained employment for one year through the JobPath scheme. 

Those that refuse to engage with the scheme can have their social welfare reduced or cut off. 

“Earlier this year, Sinn Féin brought forward a Dáil motion which called for an end to JobPath referrals and an end to the mandatory nature of the scheme. This motion was passed by the Dáil, yet Minister Doherty chose to ignore the will of the Dáil and has to date, taken no action.

“I am calling on Minister Doherty to open her eyes. JobPath has failed. It has to go,” Sinn Féin’s John Brady told TheJournal.ie.

Despite the Dáil voting for referrals to JobPath to end, the government scheme is still up and running.

Contract with private companies

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said in a recent parliamentary question that the contract held by the two private companies commenced in 2015 and, under the terms of the contracts signed with the providers, will run for at least six years.

“This includes a period of at least four years of client referrals to the end of 2019, and a run-off period of at least two years,” she said.

Doherty added that the contract includes an option which could extend the term of referrals for two periods of up to 12 months each the end of 2019.

The minister said: 

The process of procuring contracted public employment services for 2020 and beyond is in its early stages of development. My officials are working to design a procurement model that will balance the need for value for money for taxpayers with the importance of preserving high-quality employment advisory services.

She added that as part of this process the ongoing requirements of the public employment service including the period for client referrals under JobPath are currently being considered.

“To date no decisions have been taken in this regard. However, my Department is currently considering how best to continue to provide a high-quality public employment service that meets the needs of all jobseekers, while looking to provide employment services to those most distant from the labour market and to people who have not previously availed of these services,” she said.

The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday that the department had defended the success of the scheme stating that 20% of the people that go through the programme get employment.

Correspondence to members of the committee also stated that the department plans to carry out another report on the scheme to highlight the savings that it has yielded in terms of having people working for a period of time, rather than being on social welfare. 

Independent TD Catherine Connolly said she disagreed with the department’s defence of the programme, stating that having a State agency, rather than private companies, involved in employment would be a more “wholesome approach”.

She also said reports on the scheme “assess a spectrum of criteria to fit the result that is wanted”. She added that JobPath is “not giving value for money”. 

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46 Comments
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    Mute Scott Mcgarry
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:10 PM

    I bought 1 for the wife recently ..to be honest worth every penny

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    Mute Trisha Tully
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:39 PM

    So funny Scott :-)

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    Mute Trisha Tully
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:52 PM

    I hope you didn’t have to cane her.

    28
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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:41 PM

    Black trousers/skirt, white shirt, jumper with no crest, done €40, easy peasy (uniform should also be worn for all school events, communions and conformations included)

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    Mute Marcus Bale
    Favourite Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:48 PM

    Why should they . 40 euro doing well

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    Mute Bennythekid
    Favourite Bennythekid
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:06 PM

    It’s a pure racket this uniform lark- a pure money making operation.there too expensive.government should impose some form of price control.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:33 PM

    Wait until secondary school!!

    69
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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:31 PM

    In fairness our school use generic uniforms. But you gotta sew on the crest which costs €3.. You could easy kit out a kid 2 times for €20 in Aldi. Or €30/€40 in Dunnes/Tesco. I am happy with that.

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    Mute Mantis Toboggan
    Favourite Mantis Toboggan
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    Feb 7th 2017, 3:34 AM

    It’s a lot less hassle in the morning for parents and kids to wear a uniform. Once generic jumpers etc. were allowed then everyone would be happy.

    32
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    Mute Alan Ball
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:05 PM

    My parents sent five of us to school in uniforms.That was 40 years ago plus.My mother had a very simple method of paying for the uniforms when the time came to go to school.It was part of an overall strategy she employed to manage the house budget …It was called saving.Just thought I would put it out there..It still works for many families who do not go down the hand out route.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Feb 6th 2017, 11:37 PM

    Agree. A kids uniform about the same cost as a few months Netflix or 1 month Sky or a couple of takeaways or few packets of fags. Amazing value really.

    36
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    Mute prop joe
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:46 PM

    It’s a joke you have to buy the crested uniform from the one shop only. No crest uniforms would solve alot of problems

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @prop joe: Then buy the crest separately and stich it on cloths yourself

    66
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    Mute prop joe
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:44 PM

    @Chria. Not all schools allow that. Anyway why have the crest on the uniform. It’s not like you have to look at the crest to know what school you go to.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:44 PM

    My daughters school does that but the skirt is blue check which can only be bought from the 1 shop

    46
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    Mute Thomas McGilly
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:14 PM

    The crest is intrinsic to the identity of the school. Should be worn and promoted as a way of instilling pride in the school.

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    Mute Daisy Chai NSaw
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:28 PM

    @Thomas McGilly: And as a little bit of profiteering and profit sharing between the shop and the school while they gouge the parents.

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    Mute Marie McDevitt
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:26 PM

    The cost of a uniform is much less than dressing your son/daughter in the latest big label fashions and although I encourage individuality in this case I find a uniform less of a distraction than having the pressure of having to choose an appropriate outfit every day, it also prevents an element of bullying where an individual cannot afford the latest trends. I

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:37 PM

    @Marie McDevitt: That’s fine, but not when the uniform is just one more rip off.

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    Mute Keith Moore
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:40 PM

    How many bloody times will this a proposed and guess what nothing ever happens. Government at its best. Lots of press releases and full of SH#TE

    135
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:09 PM

    @Keith Moore: What about the parents, they have votes and power to demand change. A petition/protest march, they can do something about it and the book racket is a complete mafia stitch up.

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:28 PM

    @Stephen murphy: Yeah in the same way they can do something about the ‘voluntary contribution’ racket, but choose not to because they’re afraid of the school.

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    Mute Alex Falcone
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:46 PM

    They are expensive but school uniforms are important. Can’t have kids coming to school looking like Goths.

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    Mute Archie McLoughlin
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:51 PM

    Would you rather see everyone wear the country colours with jeans and brown shoes instead? At least goths have some personality compared to the holister and Co gang

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    Mute Alex Falcone
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:54 PM

    @Archie McLoughlin:
    ‘Personality’
    There’s more personality in a valium.

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:09 AM

    At least they are in school Alex, shouldn’t matter a damn how they look.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 3:10 AM

    @molly coddled: That is what some of their boyfriend think as well, bad joke Molly lol.

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    Mute Nellie Oneill
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:46 PM

    Two daughter’s in school about a ton for 2 sets of uniforms for both including tracksuits. Cheap as chips

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    Mute Thommo's Big Nose
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:26 PM

    That’s some expensive chips. Eddie Rockets?

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    Mute Kevin50
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:19 PM

    As a former school board member we attempted to offer 2 uniforms, one uniform was lesser quality and half the price but was identical in look to the higher quality. Unless you looked very closely you would not have noticed the difference. The higher quality outsold the lower quality by 4 to 1.

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    Mute Trisha Tully
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:46 PM

    Why did the board members attempt to offer 2 uniforms at different prices Kevin50 instead of having the cheaper option as the only option when it was that hard to tell the difference. I doubt anyone would be looking that closely at the uniform.

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    Mute Charlene Vaughan
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:21 PM

    If you could remove the whole ” you can only get the jumper and track suit in xx shop” it would be ok. Made good savings on shirts/pinafore by shopping around but had to fork out 35 euro for a crested jumper and 45 for a tracksuit due to being school specific and only available in 1 shop! My daughter is only 4 and in baby infants so no doubt price for these will increase as she grows! The tracksuit thing drives me mad what happened to wearing normal clothes for pe like we did!

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    Mute Emma Collins
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:33 PM

    If a school wants a uniform the school/state should pay for it.

    28
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    Mute David Dickenson
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:37 PM

    @Emma Collins:and who pays for the schools? How would that work?

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    Mute Emma Collins
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:44 PM

    If you’re not willing to pay for schools then don’t have uniforms! Not sure I entirely understand your comment! It’s like people who have no children saying they won’t pay for childcare!!!! Those children pay for your pensions. So the argument is moot!

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:49 PM

    Maybe some form of sponsorship on the uniform might be an idea e.g Supermacs, Tayto, Denny’s etc

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:56 PM

    @Emma Collins:
    I want everything!
    I want it now!

    And I want someone else to pay for it.

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    Mute darrell fahy
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:43 PM

    Moot means open for debate so crack on there emma

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    Mute David Murphey
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:13 PM

    Gubbermint should pay for everyting.

    29
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    Mute Peter donnelly
    Favourite Peter donnelly
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:35 PM

    @Emma Collins: Sorry to burst your bubble but nobody`s children pay my pension I worked for 50 odd years and payed for my pension through PRSI and tax`s for which I am now made to feel like pariah with people of your persuasion….

    56
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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:31 PM

    @darrell fahy: Also means “having little or no practical relevance”, I suggest she goes down this route.

    11
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Feb 7th 2017, 3:14 AM

    @Emma Collins: If you want a HSE trolly then you should, hay???

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    Mute Andrew Giles
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:03 PM

    You don’t need to wear a uniform to learn, you just need to turn up and listen

    20
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    Mute liam hayes
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:18 PM

    School uniform ha ha
    both of my children are in the local educate together school,
    School uniform €0.00

    18
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    Mute Cathal S Byrne
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:38 PM

    But they still have to wear clothes so there is a cost

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    Mute Trisha Tully
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:49 PM

    Do you send your children to school in their birthday suits liam hayes?

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    Mute Theresa O'Donohoe
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:04 PM

    When crests are involved – yes! Otherwise they’re very cheap

    17
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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:37 PM

    @The Journal: A wee bit early for April fool jokes .

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    Mute Jlocoroco
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:32 PM

    Who to feck said no

    12
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    Mute Catherine
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    Feb 7th 2017, 8:29 AM

    My little fella started primary this year, generic uniform, got 2 jumpers, 4 shirts, 2 trousers and 2 polos in M&S for €51. That was grand, but the tracksuits are school specific and cost about €60 which is too pricey considering they’ll only get the year out of them. That’s nothing compared to the secondary schools in the area though. My nephew started in September and his uniform was the better part of 800 and that was with his mum buying generic for anything she could get away with. The bloody tie was 50!! People can harp on about saving during the year all they want, but if your income is stretched thin as it is, coming up with almost 1000 over the course of the year could be next to impossible and that’s assuming you’ve only got one kid to buy for. That’s before you start having to get the books!

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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:32 PM

    The uniform can be sourced at a reasonable enough price, it’s the tracksuit and runners are expensive. And, let’s face it, PE in Irish schools is rubbish.

    9
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    Mute Dingleberrycity
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    Feb 7th 2017, 3:32 AM

    Why should any child be required to wear a special type of clothing just so they can receive an education?

    7
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    Mute Jlocoroco
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:55 PM

    Uniforms are a pointless idea and the only reason people don’t like educate together schools is because they’re too liberal

    6
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    Mute Kieran W
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    Feb 7th 2017, 12:20 AM

    YES!!!!!!!

    3
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