Written answers
Friday, 7 September 2018
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1220. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision to cease jobseeker's allowance to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if this payment will be reinstated with arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35786/18]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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JobPath is an approach to employment activation which caters mainly for people who are long-term unemployed (over 12 months) to assist them to secure and sustain full-time paid employment or self-employment.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Jobseekers Allowance payment of €107.70 p.w. and she has been selected for participation on JobPath. In North Kildare the JobPath Program is delivered by the CENIT Group in partnership with Seetec.
The person concerned was referred to the program on the 2ndof December 2017. Regretfully, she has failed, without good cause, to attend 7 appointments with her JobPath provider (Cenit), which has resulted in the application of sanctions on four occasions.
The sanctions imposed have led to a penalty rate reduction of €25.00 per week on 3 occasions (7 weeks in total) and a further full payment suspension on 1 occasion (for 4 weeks in total).
Decisions in relation to the imposition of sanctions on Jobseekers Allowance payments are undertaken in accordance with Section 141A of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 as amended.
The payment of arrears is not under consideration at this time.
An Appeals form was however sent to the person concerned on 22ndAugust 2018 and she has a period of 21 days to complete this form and to return it to her Intreo Centre. Subsequent to the finalisation of the appeals process the Deciding Officer will implement the decision of the Appeals Officer, and if any arrears are due, they will be issued to the person concerned at that time.
I hope this clarifies the position.
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