Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to JobPath since its commencement and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46218/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The primary purpose of JobPath is to provide a case management based employment advice and counselling service to long-term unemployed jobseekers. The service was launched in 2015 on a ‘rolling basis’ with referral numbers gradually increasing over time.

Between July 2015 and October 2019, some 244,219 jobseekers had commenced their engagement period with the JobPath service - see table 1.  Of this number, 52% were unemployed for over three years.  This group, in particular, faces significant barriers when seeking to enter or return to paid employment.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table 1: Jobseekers referred to JobPath by year