Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016
286. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot be released from JobPath to pursue a child care course through a community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. JobPath is one of a range of activation supports, including schemes such as Community Employment, catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a jobseeker payment for a number of years and has not had any meaningful activation engagement. She was referred to JobPath on 8 May 2016. Recently she contacted a local Community Employment provider. However, I understand that the Community Employment course in question is not currently available.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal advisor works with the job-seeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Job-seekers are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.
In general, and JobPath is not an exception, job-seekers are not allowed to participate in two separate schemes at the same time. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, the Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another scheme. Participation in other schemes and programmes remains an option once the client’s period on JobPath is completed.
In the case in question I understand that the person concerned has completed a personal progression plan and that her personal advisor is actively working with her to assist her in finding suitable full-time employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
