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Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Questions (984, 985, 986, 987)

Alan Kelly

Question:

984. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the definition of long-term unemployment before a person in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance claim can be referred at random to the JobPath activation services; and if it is 12 months or less. [19503/22]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

985. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if referrals to JobPath will finish in June 2022. [19504/22]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

986. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if the signing of a personal progression plan or any paperwork provided by JobPath is mandatory for the client to sign who may have concerns over signing any contract or paperwork with an independent private UK-based company due to third party data privacy concerns but would be more than willing to verbally agree to engage without signing if referred; and if there would be a threat of a reduction in social welfare payment for refusal to sign such a PPP or other paperwork provided by the private companies that run JobPath. [19505/22]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

987. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if individuals referred to JobPath will be forced to take low paid unskilled employment not relevant to their past or present experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19506/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 984 to 987, inclusive, together.

JobPath is an employment assistance and advice service that supports and assists people who are long-term unemployed, including those working part time, to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. It is not a job-placement service.

All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection to one of the contracted public employment services, including JobPath. Referral to the JobPath programme is by means of random selection.

All jobseekers referred for the assistance of the employment support services, including those referred to the JobPath service, are assigned a Personal Advisor. Each customer is asked to complete an assessment of their skills, qualifications, and work experience for the purpose of agreeing a personal progression plan. The personal progression plan typically contains a schedule of activities, actions and job-focused targets, taking into account the person’s specific employment preferences.

Jobseekers are asked to sign the personal progression plan as an indication of their agreement to carry out the actions contained in the document. They are not obliged to sign but their agreement is noted.

All jobseekers are required, under legislation, to fully engage with the employment support service in this and all other respects. The personal progression plan is a crucial element of each jobseeker’s engagement with any of the Department’s employment services and generally will be a document that will be reviewed throughout the person’s engagement period as they develop employment related skills and competencies or job related experience from short periods of employment.

Personal Advisors work with clients on their barriers to employment to ensure that when a suitable employment opportunity presents itself that they have a potential solution in place. When a person is considering applying for a particular position, the Personal Advisor where appropriate will discuss the financial implications of returning to work and advice is given on other entitlements that may be available to the client. The Personal Advisor’s role in this process is to provide advice and support to the client helping them to come to a decision on whether the position is suitable and sustainable. It is the client themselves that make that final decision.

While the referral of clients to the JobPath service will cease at the end of June 2022, there will be a run-off period to enable existing clients to complete their engagement.

Question No. 985 answered with Question No. 984.
Question No. 986 answered with Question No. 984.
Question No. 987 answered with Question No. 984.
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