Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is a requirement of the JobPath scheme that participants must attend JobPath offices in order to do job searches; if this is the case for participants with small children who must pay for child care while they attend JobPath meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39986/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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All jobseekers are required to engage with the Department's activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the department's own case officers or those employed by the Local Employment Service or by JobPath.

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.

Participants must attend the JobPath offices to engage with the service but there is nothing to prevent a person from searching for jobs from their own home or elsewhere. The JobPath companies offer expert job application advice and assistance on an individual basis so attendance at a JobPath office provides a better opportunity for a person to secure suitable employment.

The JobPath companies take account of individual circumstances and can structure appointments to accommodate such things as child care and may, on a case by case basis, provide financial support towards childcare costs.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.