Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those completing community employment are being referred to JobPath later; if so, when this commenced; and the number of persons that have completed community employment have been moved to JobPath. [22475/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseekers currently engaged on a Community Employment (CE) scheme are not eligible for selection for the JobPath service.

When a person completes a period of Community Employment they can avail of my Department's Intreo service for advice and assistance in gaining employment. Should they make a claim for a Jobseeker's payment after completing CE, they will become eligible for referral to external employment services including JobPath. This has been the case since the inception of the JobPath service in 2015

If referred to JobPath the customer will receive one-to-one, intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser who will assess their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and assist them in finding full-time sustainable employment. This process will also help identify potential employment opportunities and offer support to the individual in overcoming any barriers to employment.

My Department does not currently collect and collate data in relation to persons who commence on the JobPath service and who may at some point have also taken part in a Community Employment scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if JobPath providers are making contact with persons on the pandemic unemployment payment seeking to engage them on JobPath. [22476/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The JobPath service provides employment assistance and advice to customers referred to the service by my Department for a 52 week period. Should a customer secure employment during this engagement period the JobPath service also provides in-work support to these customers. However, should the customer subsequently lose their employment within their original 52 week engagement period they will continue to be supported by the JobPath employment service for the remainder of this period.

My Department only refers customers in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment to JobPath.  Among those currently availing of the supports provided by the JobPath service are some individuals who at the time of their referral were in receipt of a jobseeker's payment and are now in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).  This arises when a JobPath customer, who was in receipt of a Jobseeker's payment when originally referred, gains employment and while within their 52 engagement period moves from employment to the PUP payment due to the impact of the pandemic. These individuals continue to be supported with access to employment services for the balance of their original 52 week engagement.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.