Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person selected for JobPath is prohibited from applying for a community employment scheme. [17971/16]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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280. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons selected for JobPath can transfer onto community employment, JobBridge or Gateway schemes. [18196/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 280 together.

Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, the Department does not, in general, facilitate or encourage jobseekers to transfer from or leave one activation support scheme to take up a place on another activation support scheme. However JobPath participants may apply to participate on other schemes and can, subject to assessment by a case officer, commence on other schemes following completion of their JobPath engagement. The period of engagement on JobPath is typically 12 months.

Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time paid sustainable employment. Each person is assigned to a personal adviser who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal adviser and the participant draw up a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job-focused targets which may include work experience via the JobBridge internship scheme provided that this internship is undertaken voluntarily by the jobseeker and does not substitute for provision of the JobPath advisory service. If a jobseeker receiving support under JobPath takes up a JobBridge opportunity they will continue to work with their JobPath advisor during the internship programme. If they are subsequently placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months, and up to twelve months, while in employment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.