Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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239. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons participating on JobPath are paid by either JobPath or the employer for travel, childcare or lunch vouchers; and, if it is the employers who pay, if it is mandatory that they cover costs when they take on a JobPath participant. [32955/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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JobPath is a new approach to the provision of employment services to jobseekers that are long term unemployed. While engaging with the JobPath service participants are provided with a range of supports based on an assessment of individual needs, which may include reasonable travel costs and childcare. On a case by case basis, the JobPath providers will pay for items such as personal protective equipment, tools, work clothing, Private Security Authority (PSA) licences and may also arrange and pay for specific skills training if required by a jobseeker for particular types of jobs. The employers of JobPath participants, like all other employers, are under no obligation to cover costs for travel, childcare or lunch vouchers. The JobPath providers may use their own funds on a discretionary basis to support JobPath participants in the early stages of employment, if they deem it appropriate.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.