Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018
53. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce flexibility into the JobPath programme to allow persons to transfer between JobPath and community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26533/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am happy to inform the Deputy that I recently announced that jobseekers who are engaged with the JobPath service can, from 1st June, apply for CE and Tús placements while continuing to engage with JobPath. This will ensure that jobseekers can benefit from the job-seeking support of the JobPath service while also availing of a part-time work placement provided by CE or Tús. This will have a number of benefits both for the vital services provided at a local level by participants on CE and Tús programmes and directly for the Department’s customers. It will, in particular, enable those people with the JobPath service to not only continue to receive the personalised employment counselling and jobsearch support provided by their JobPath personal advisors but also to avail of CE or Tús placement which will provide valuable occupational activity and work experience.
In making this change I was particularly conscious that case managed employment counselling and support is shown internationally, and in Ireland, to be the most effective means of supporting people back into sustained employment. I did not wish for people to cease participation in this type of service in order to take up a place on a part-time State employment programme. The decision I have now made enables people to benefit from both types of support.
I was also conscious in taking this decision that the resource constraints that informed the Department’s policy up to this point have abated somewhat. In the past the Department operated what was a ‘one person-one place’ policy in order to ration the available places among all jobseekers. Given the welcome improvement in the labour market with unemployment now down to under 6% this policy can be relaxed.
The JobPath service will be adapted to cater for those who opt to take up a Tús or Community Scheme and all meetings and activities will be scheduled to take account of the Scheme commitments. For example if a person is committed to participate in the employment scheme for 5 mornings, all JobPath meetings including training and job search activities will be scheduled for the afternoons. The JobPath companies will continue to provide all the supports which it currently provides. CE and Tús providers will not have to make any changes to their operations.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
