Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2015
47. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the level of engagement between her Department and recruitment agencies here to encourage and maximise the use of jobsireland.ie in identifying possible candidates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4981/15]
View answerThe Department provides a free recruitment service to employers and recruitment agencies through the Jobs Ireland website (www.jobsireland.ie). The purpose of the service is to support employers and recruitment agencies to increase employment and to provide a mechanism through which jobseekers can search for job opportunities and submit applications. In 2014, over 110,000 vacancy positions were advertised on the JobsIreland website, either directly by employers or by recruitment agencies on behalf of a company. Over 400 recruitment agencies have used the service since its establishment in 2000.
The Department is engaged in a programme to modernise its services. This modernisation programme is fundamental to the Department’s objectives of delivering a comprehensive service to people, positioning the Department to better adapt to political priorities and changing customer needs, while delivering on internal effectiveness and efficiency goals.
As part of the modernisation programme and in order to improve the job/candidate matching capability of Jobs Ireland, a tender process is currently under way for a new job matching system. Subject to the outcome of the tender process it is anticipated that the new system will go live during 2015. Improving the job/candidate matching capability of this service will incentivise employers and recruitment agencies to use the service to provide more jobs for those who are unemployed.
In line with the Government’s programme of change, the Department established a dedicated employer engagement Unit in 2012 with a focus on building relationships with employers and recruitment agencies to raise awareness and take- up of employment services and supports, including availing of the Jobs Ireland service. This work will continue during 2015.
