Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
39. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will list the companies that have tendered to be involved in the JobPath scheme; if she sees this scheme as having a negative impact on the local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10475/14]
View answerJobPath is a new programme of employment activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market. The allocation of additional resources to the activation of long term unemployed people was the focus of an updated “Pathways to Work” policy statement published in July 2013 (PTW 2013). The Department examined various resourcing and contracting options, and taking note of recommendations by the OECD among others, the Department has decided to procure additional capacity from providers with expertise and experience in the provision of employment supports or related services. This additional capacity will augment the Department’s own activation capacity as well as that already contracted through Local Employment Services (LES) providers. It is not intended that it will substitute for or replace any of the services currently offered by the Department. In this regard the Department has maintained the budget for LES services for 2014 at the same level as 2013 and intends to operate the LES services, which are a valued component of its services to jobseekers, in parallel with JobPath. On the 12th of December 2013 a request for tenders (RFT) for the provision of the service was issued with a closing date for receipt of submissions of the 28th February 2014. Given the requirements of EU and National procurement regulations the Department will not disclose any details in relations to the tenders received while the procurement process is ongoing.
