John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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477. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of jobseekers who have been referred to JobPath for the second time after completing the scheme in full; the length of time after the scheme is completed that JobPath can re-invite former participants to participate again; if jobseekers must participate the second time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38367/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All persons in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance must be capable of, available for and actively seeking full time employment. The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, specifies that participation in activation meetings is mandatory and that applies to all activation services provided by the Department including those provided by the contracted providers JobPath; Local Employment Services and Jobs Clubs.

JobPath is designed to support people who are long term unemployed to obtain and sustain employment in the open labour market. The JobPath companies have no role in selection of jobseekers for referral to the service. My Department selects clients for the JobPath service by means of a random selection process and protocols for selection currently preclude the selection of anyone who has already completed 52 weeks with the JobPath service within the previous four months.

Since July 2015, just over 11,000 jobseekers have commenced a second engagement period with the service, having availed of the service for one year previously. For those jobseekers returning to the JobPath service for additional assistance in their search for employment, their Personal Progression Plan will be developed to build on their previous engagement including tackling their own barrier/s to employment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.