Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the consideration being given by him to allow participants on community employment schemes and the Tús scheme remain for extended periods on these schemes in areas in which it is proving difficult to fill vacancies on these schemes due to the JobPath programme, in view of the statement made by An Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann in regard to this matter during Leaders' Questions on 31 January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5838/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include JobPath and employment programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús schemes.

The JobPath service aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of engagement with JobPath for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time they receive intensive individual support to help them to overcome barriers to employment and are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills.

Employment schemes, such as CE and Tús, provide part-time temporary work in the communities, as a stepping stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments including those on a long term jobseeker’s payment. However, these placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. People who have completed their year long engagement with JobPath may, if eligible, apply to partake in a CE scheme after they have been assessed by a departmental case officer.

My Department is very conscious of the valuable contribution employment schemes, such as CE and Tús, are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland. With the welcome fall in the numbers on the Live Register, some schemes may have issues filling available places. In this regard, my Department’s Intreo staff can assist in ensuring maximum utilisation of places and if any scheme is experiencing particular difficulties filling vacancies, they should contact their local Intreo office as soon as possible.

With the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register, the Deputy will appreciate that issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes all need to be considered. I hope to bring a Memo to Government in the coming weeks about these matters. If there are changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.