I call Deputy Martin Kenny. I remind him that he has been chosen to raise a matter in the Topical Issue debate.

I understand that. My question is for the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty. Many of today's questions were not. We have had many problems with JobPath, which I will not get into as I wish to raise a specific issue relating to JobPath. A man in my constituency works for a company that put its workers on a three-day week when the hard times came. It did not sack them but tried to work with them. He is continually being sent to JobPath because he is only working three days a week. The rules say that one must work for more than 30 hours a week to avoid that. Some leniency must be allowed in such a situation. This man has worked for the company for 28 years. If he got a job somewhere else he would lose a redundancy package to which he would be entitled in the not-too-distant future. It does not make sense for him to look for a job somewhere else, yet he is continually called back to JobPath. Could the Minister consider introducing some flexibility and reduce the timeframe from 30 hours a week, possibly down to 25 hours a week as it would suit many people?

I call Deputy Fitzpatrick on the same issue.

As the Minister is aware, many people end up being put on a three-day week when they are put on short time.

Could the Minister provide some clarity on JobPath? A constituent came to my office in recent weeks who is on JobPath. He has been offered three or four jobs which he could not avail of as he does not have a safe pass certificate as the jobs were on construction sites. When he went to JobPath he was told to go to the social welfare office but when he went to the social welfare office he was told he must go to JobPath. As a result, he has lost three of four jobs in recent weeks. Who is responsible for getting a safe pass certificate? Does JobPath pay for it or does the social welfare office pay for it?

The Minister can respond if she is in a position to do so.

Two separate issues have been raised. In response to Deputy Martin Kenny, JobPath is there to help people who are unemployed or under-employed. As I do not know the person in the case raised by the Deputy, I assume he is presenting as available for work on the other two days. If he is available for work and is claiming a jobseeker's benefit payment, then we are obliged to help him get work for those two days.

Yes.

There are nuances in every scheme. If Deputy Kenny will do me a favour and give me the gentleman's name I will see what I can do in the particular circumstances.

In response to Deputy Fitzpatrick, JobPath is a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection scheme. Part of our activation is to use training to put people through whatever measures will help them to get them closer to the marketplace. Again, if the gentleman or lady in question wants to do a safe pass course then we should be able to arrange it. If Deputy Fitzpatrick wants to come to me personally and give me the person's name I will help with that. It is not a problem.

I thank the Minister.