Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason social protection recipients who participate on the JobPath programme are being told that they cannot during the term of the programme take up a Tús position despite otherwise meeting the criteria for Tús participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35522/16]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain companies administering the JobPath programme do not make it clear to participants who join that programme that they cannot take up a position with Tús while they are participating in the JobPath programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35523/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.

JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time sustainable jobs. Each participant is assigned to a personal adviser who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. The personal adviser works with the jobseeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants receive the JobPath service for a period of 12 months (which can be extended by up to six months to facilitate the jobseeker completing training programmes) or until such time as they find employment whichever is the sooner. If the jobseeker secures employment during this period they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment

TÚS is a community work placement initiative providing short-term working opportunities for jobseekers as a stepping stone back to full-time employment. TÚS placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Unemployed people do not apply to participate in TÚS. Eligible people are selected for TÚS by my Department. In general, in order to manage the allocation of places effectively, jobseekers cannot participate in two schemes simultaneously. This restriction applies to TÚS, JobPath and other schemes. However, if a person has completed their engagement with the one service and continues to be unemployed, participation on other schemes remains an option that can be considered for that person subject to an assessment by a departmental case officer.

Jobseekers, who are selected for JobPath, are invited to attend an initial information session that is jointly hosted by my Department and the JobPath company and at which the jobseekers' rights and responsibilities are explained. I have asked my officials to arrange for information on referrals to TÚS (as well as other scheme such as Community Employment and Gateway) to be provided at future sessions.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.