Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 April 2014
22. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the objections to JobPath, which proposes to outsource employment support services to private operators, submitted by the public sector unions to the Haddington Road mechanism; and if she will halt the JobPath procurement process. [17649/14]
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 Government decided to procure additional capacity from providers with expertise and experience in the provision of employment supports or related services.
This additional capacity will complement and augment the Department’s own activation capacity. It should be noted that the Department currently augments its internal employment services capacity through contracted provision. The Department has contracts with 22 companies for the provision of Local Employment Services and a further 46 companies for the provision of Job Clubs. With regard to the objections to JobPath raised by some public sector unions, an arbitration hearing was held on Monday 14th April 2014 and the outcome of this hearing is awaited.
