I propose to take Questions Nos. 1112, 1113, 1130, 1137, 1154, 1155, 1170, 1179 and 1190 together.
As part of the July stimulus, the Government committed to increase resources dedicated to the delivery of employment services within the Department’s own Intreo service, and, in addition, to expand the coverage of the Local Employment Services to areas not currently covered by existing providers. My Department has already increased its own complement of employment service staff and now intends to issue a Request for Tender (RFT) to expand local employment services into some geographical areas where a Local Employment Service does not currently exist. The specific lots will be detailed in the RFT when it is published.
The forthcoming RFT will primarily focus on the quality of services to be provided, while expanding the capacity of the Public Employment Service (PES). This RFT, which is required to comply with EU procurement rules, will have no impact on the contracts of existing providers in other areas and it is expected that the tender will prove attractive to local community-based organisations, including the Local Development Companies.
In practice, the annual "cost met" funding approach requires a level of scrutiny of day-to-day expenditure, which places an undue administrative burden on both the employment service provider and my Department. Such an approach diverts valuable resources away from supporting clients and as such does nothing to enhance employment outcomes for the long-term unemployed. Moving to a new multiannual funding approach, which pays for each jobseeker referred to the service, coupled with a strong emphasis on quality of service provision is more likely to deliver enhanced outcomes for those availing of the service.
The process I have described is not a cost-cutting exercise. My Department is investing more in our communities by expanding employment services across the State and providing more support and assistance to the long term unemployed.
Regarding the governance of any potential service providers, the Department has never been in the position of dictating the board structure of service delivery contractors.
Separately, the current contracts for all contracted PES provision expire at the end of 2021 and my Department is therefore developing RFTs to ensure that sufficient high-quality employment services are procured in a manner that is compatible with EU and national procurement rules.
Organisations with strong experience in the delivery of similar services at a community and local level will be in a strong position to respond to the RFTs when they issue.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
