Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those that are offered a place on a community employment, CE, scheme and then subsequently referred to JobPath are being denied the opportunity to participate in the CE scheme even if that is their preference; if his attention has been further drawn to the difficulties this is creating for CE schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17857/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These include the JobPath service and programmes such as Community Employment (CE).

The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers and the period of engagement with the service for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time, they receive intensive individual support to help them 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. This is all done with a view to helping them access a job in the open labour market.

During the year, if a person is placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to an additional twelve months while in employment. Jobseekers who are engaged on JobPath are ineligible for CE for the duration of the JobPath intervention. However, 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 one of my Department’s case officers.

CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in local 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, it is important to note that CE placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Once a person has been offered a place on CE by a sponsor and has a start date within 4 weeks of the date that they were referred to JobPath, they can proceed to commence on CE instead. If there is a delay beyond 4 weeks due to awaiting Garda vetting, this 4 week period can be extended provided the Garda vetting application date precedes the JobPath referral date.

In general - and JobPath and CE are no exception - job-seekers are not allowed to participate in two employment activation supports at the same time. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, my Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another scheme.

Any CE scheme that is experiencing difficulties in recruitment should contact their local DSP Intreo office for assistance.