Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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67. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will allow persons seeking employment who have been awarded a place on a community scheme or Tús but not yet started, and who are pulled for JobPath before training starts, to be allowed to choose between the community employment scheme or Tús; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39681/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of activation supports 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) schemes and Tús. Both CE and Tús provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of certain social welfare payments including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment. The JobPath service provides intensive individual support to people who are long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. This service is provided solely for jobseekers. The period of engagement with JobPath 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. Where a jobseeker, has a written offer of a placement on CE or TÚS and a commencement date within 4 weeks of the date of referral to JobPath, they will be facilitated to take up the place – where Garda vetting is required for the placement, the time period will be extended to allow for that process to be completed. In addition people who have completed their year-long engagement with JobPath may, if eligible, apply to partake in a CE or Tús scheme provided they have been assessed by one of my Department’s case officers.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.