Written answers

Tuesday, 26 September 2017

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

JobPath Programme

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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503. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who has been transferred to a organisation (details supplied) can transfer back to the Department placement system in order to pursue a training course relevant to their job prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40310/17]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Participants with 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 service 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 and will be referred back to the Department for that purpose.

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 will continue to provide appropriate support to the person while they are on such courses.

Where a person is approved for a course of training or education which is over 9 months, the referral to the JobPath service will be cancelled to allow the person to focus on their studies.

I trust this clarifies the process for the Deputy.

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