Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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635. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is compulsory to return to JobPath in the case of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that they completed a year on JobPath in August 2017. [49901/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All Jobseekers on the live register must be capable of; available for and actively seeking full time employment, they are also required to engage with the Department’s activation services. The Social Welfare (Consolidated) Act 2005, as amended, specifies that participation in activation meetings is mandatory.

Clients for JobPath are chosen by means of a random selection process and protocols for selection currently preclude the selection of anyone who has already completed 52 weeks on the JobPath programme within the previous four months. The person concerned completed their JobPath referral in August 2017 and is not currently eligible for selection for a second period of activation support with the JobPath service.

All jobseekers that have completed their 52 week engagement with JobPath, without finding suitable and sustainable employment, are being referred back to their Intreo centres for an assessment by a Departmental case officer.

In this case, an assessment was completed by an Intreo Case Officer shortly after he finished with the JobPath service. The options available and offered to him included referrals to the Local Employment Service; the local Partnership for assistance and advice regarding setting up his own business and work placements with CE and Tús. However, he did not wish pursue those options at that time. However, he will be considered for other activation supports on an ongoing basis including JobPath when he becomes eligible.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.