John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is his Department's policy objective to place jobseekers in JobPath in preference over community employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17625/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Activation supports are provided for customers of my Department who are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. The activation services and schemes are provided directly by the Intreo Case Officers; by private companies such as the JobPath companies, the Local Employment Services and Job Clubs or through Community Employment Schemes such as CE and Tús. The aim of activation is to help the jobseeker secure and sustain full-time employment.

My Department does not have a policy of referring jobseekers to JobPath in preference to CE Scheme. However, Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to allow the scheme and service providers time to work with the participants to achieve the best outcome for the person, it also ensures that the best use is made of places available across all the activation supports available.

The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers that have been unemployed for at least a year; Selection for JobPath is based on a random selection of eligible jobseekers who are not engaged with another activation support at the time of selection. Where a person is selected for JobPath, and they already have received an offer of a placement on a CE Scheme which is commencing within four weeks, my Department will facilitate the customer to take up the placement, similarly a person on a CE Scheme will not be available for selection for JobPath until their placement on the CE scheme is complete.

Each person referred to the JobPath service is allocated a personal advisor who provides intensive individual support and assistance. When a jobseeker with JobPath finds employment, they will be supported by the JobPath Company for at least the first 13 weeks and up to a year until they are settled in the job. This is in contrast to the Community Employment schemes that provide part-time employment and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including those on long term unemployment payments. Community Employment does not, nor is intended to provide full-time sustainable employment.

The referral period for the JobPath service is typically for a year. At the end of the 52 weeks, Jobseekers who have not been successful in finding suitable employment may, subject to an assessment by an Intreo case officer, apply for other activation supports such as CE.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.