Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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377. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the details of all the courses, including course providers, for which JobPath does and may provide funding in County Donegal, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16666/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support over a period of up to 12 months to help them tackle barriers to employment and to find jobs. As part of the JobPath process each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, qualifications and experience with a particular focus on identifying appropriate training and educational interventions in the context of potential employment opportunities

The JobPath providers arrange for the delivery of a broad range of education and training courses with a particular and strong focus on upskilling the long term unemployed. Some of these courses are provided in-house while others are provided by specialist training providers including the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). In addition, JobPath participants may also apply for the Back to Education Allowance Scheme in order to pursue second and third level courses.

In order to support JobPath providers in referring people to training and education, and to allow jobseekers to benefit fully from the JobPath service, the Department will extend the 12 month JobPath referral period by the duration of any externally delivered approved training course. This can be up to an additional 26 weeks. The JobPath companies remain in contact with the person while they are on such courses.

For any long-term programmes of education such as a degree course the client is withdrawn from the JobPath service. Clients who return to the live register following completion of their long-term course of education may be referred back to JobPath.

Attached is a breakdown of all the courses and the course providers which have been completed or in the process of completion by JobPath participants in Co Donegal to date. Where additional training requirements are identified for participants in the future, they will be facilitated either through the existing course providers or another course provider as appropriate.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Details of All Courses and Course Providers in Co. Donegal