Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 June 2019
199. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) will now have to undertake a process for a third year in a row without success; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25905/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. These supports include the JobPath service, the primary purpose of JobPath is to provide a case management based, employment advice and counselling service to long term unemployed jobseekers. This is the group of jobseekers facing the most significant barriers to entering full-time employment.
My Department selects clients for the JobPath service by means of a random selection process. Protocols for selection currently preclude the selection of anyone who has already completed 52 weeks with the JobPath service within the previous four months. If, however, at the end of this period the jobseeker has not engaged in other activation supports and services, they then become eligible for selection for a subsequent period of activation on the JobPath service. This is necessary to ensure that they continue to receive a case management service.
Jobseekers referred for a 2nd or 3rd time to any of the contracted public employment services, including JobPath will start working with an assigned Personal Advisor to review their development during their previous engagements with the service and together they will prepare a new personal progression plan to build on that progress. The actions and tasks agreed will be based on their previous engagements, with particular focus on any remaining barriers preventing the person from moving into full-time suitable employment.
The person concerned has been unemployed for over 15 years, he has already completed two years with the JobPath service - the most recent period of engagement ended in January 2019. He had made some progression during his previous engagement with JobPath, however I understand that he needs additional support in his efforts to find sustainable full time employment. He now has the opportunity to avail of further assistance from the JobPath service which will hopefully result in a full time suitable job for him.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
