Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
1288. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which persons are chosen to participate in JobPath; the way in which persons are selected to enter JobPath for a second time; if there is a maximum number of times a person may be sent to engage with the JobPath programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36454/18]
View answerJobPath is an employment activation initiative designed to support long-term unemployed people and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain full time paid employment or self-employment. The roll-out of JobPath began in 2015 and to date 160,000 participants have entered JobPath since it was first initialised.
All Jobseekers on the live register must be available for and actively seeking full time employment, they are also required to engage with the Department’s activation services.
Participants for JobPath are chosen by means of a random selection process.
Protocols for selection currently preclude the selection of anyone who has already completed 52 weeks on the JobPath programme within the previous four months.
If, however, at the end of the specified period the jobseeker has not engaged in other activation supports and services they then become eligible for selection for a second period of activation on the JobPath programme.
A Personal Advisor will then review their previous experience with JobPath and agree a new personal progression plan with actions based on their previous engagement and identified barriers to sustainable employment.
There is no current limit in place to the number of times a client can be referred to the Job Path service. The Job Path service is currently in year three of a four year contract term.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
