Claire Kerrane
Question:81. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if JobPath providers are making contact with persons on the pandemic unemployment payment seeking to engage them on JobPath. [22476/21]
View answerThursday, 29 April 2021
Questions (81)
Written answers
The JobPath service provides employment assistance and advice to customers referred to the service by my Department for a 52 week period. Should a customer secure employment during this engagement period the JobPath service also provides in-work support to these customers. However, should the customer subsequently lose their employment within their original 52 week engagement period they will continue to be supported by the JobPath employment service for the remainder of this period.
My Department only refers customers in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment to JobPath. Among those currently availing of the supports provided by the JobPath service are some individuals who at the time of their referral were in receipt of a jobseeker's payment and are now in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). This arises when a JobPath customer, who was in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment when originally referred, gains employment and while within their 52 engagement period moves from employment to the PUP payment due to the impact of the pandemic. These individuals continue to be supported with access to employment services for the balance of their original 52 week engagement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.