Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Seetec service is the most relevant service for professional actors. [17069/19]

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. 

JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed, including those working part time and those at risk of becoming long-term unemployed, to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. For those long term unemployed jobseekers with very limited employments options available within a specialised field in their local area, they may be required to broaden the search to a wider area or to other types of employment.

All long term unemployed jobseekers 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, or who take up a short term employment position , this personal service may focus on any options or opportunities to increase the level of employment in their current role, or look at possibilities in other areas. This may also involve some upskilling to equip the person to take up employment which has the possibility of  providing a  more sustainable income and a move away from a jobseekers payment. It is important therefore that jobseekers continue to engage with their JobPath provider.

Jobseekers referred to the JobPath service who are also working  casually or in part-time positions 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. 

For those people who take up occasional work when engaged with JobPath, the service will offer in-work support and they will not be required to attend with their personal advisor until the employment ends.

If the Deputy has a concern regarding a particular individual, they should advise the person to contact their local Intreo Centre to discuss their specific circumstances.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.