Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020
428. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure there is delivery of a local employment service in County Galway by a company located in County Galway; when tenders will issue for such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44341/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, existing local employment services were recently notified that their contracts would be renewed until end-2021. There are many parts of the State, including County Galway, where there has never been a local employment service provision.
I recently received the report from external consultants which reviewed my Department's entire Public Employment Services provision, including local employment services. This report addresses, among other things, the gaps in the provision of employment services in the State.
Any expansion of employment services would need to be in line with EU procurement guidelines and legal advice to my Department and therefore would be through an open competitive procurement process.
No specific request for tender is currently under preparation by my Department for an expansion of employment services in County Galway. However, officials in my Department are preparing to commence a broad procurement of such services during 2021 and it is fully anticipated that such a service will be procured for County Galway with these services becoming operational in 2022.
