Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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646. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason persons who work part time for three or four days a week are being forced to participate on JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7183/18]

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 must engage with the Department’s activation services.

JobPath is one of my Department’s employment activation services which supports people who are long-term unemployed, including those underemployed and working part time to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection for the JobPath service and clients are chosen by means of a random selection process.

JobPath provides an intensive personal service which focuses on the skills and experience of each person. In the case of clients already in part-time employment this may focus on any options or opportunities to increase the level of employment in their current role, or look at prospects in other areas, which may also involve some training, but could provide a more sustainable income and a move away from a jobseekers payment. It is important therefore that these jobseekers continue to engage with their JobPath provider.

Customers referred to JobPath who are also working part-time will have all activities including meetings with their personal advisor scheduled around their work commitments and the JobPath contractors are required to be flexible in the provision of the service in that respect.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.