Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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323. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [14731/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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JobPath is a new approach to employment activation that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and full-time sustainable paid employment. Participants are provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. Clients spend a year on JobPath. If during this time, they are placed into a job they will continue to receive in-work support for at least three months and up to twelve months to help them to maintain their employment and/or progress to full-time employment. This support is particularly important in the case of long-term unemployed jobseekers who have been out of the work-place for a long time. Participants on JobPath retain their social welfare entitlement and continue to be subject to the eligibility criteria for their jobseeker’s payment. If they are successful in gaining part-time or casual work (up to and including 3 days per week), they may still receive a jobseeker's payment for the other days of unemployment during that week if they satisfy the conditions for that payment namely:

1. Be capable of work.

2. Be available for and genuinely seeking work.

3. Satisfy the means test.

4. Meet the habitual residence condition.

In this case, the jobseeker must continue to be available for full-time employment.

All decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements are made by deciding officers of the Department. A JobPath company cannot make any decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements; however the JobPath company will continue to support the jobseeker to address barriers (through training, etc.) and to progress towards full-time employment.

If the Deputy would like to provide the jobseeker’s details, I will arrange for an official from my Department to discuss the issue with the individual concerned.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.