Written Answers Nos. 132-151
132. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has the capacity for an additional first year class of between 30 and 40 students; the steps she is taking to facilitate the school in getting these additional school places which is in a catchment area that does not have enough school places at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29905/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Deputy will note however that the selection process procedures and enrolment policy are the responsibility of the individual school authorities.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in Dublin 13.
Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons in Dublin 13 in relation to post-primary school places for September 2021 and all available options are being considered.
133. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Education her views on whether a student who experiences an epileptic seizure immediately before or during their exam and is unable to complete their exam should be given the opportunity to resit that exam within the same exam cycle or before such a time that CAO offers issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29920/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
134. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if the service record of a person (details supplied) has been transferred from the Louth-Meath Education and Training Board to her Department; the reason for the delay in transferring the documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29922/21]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that officials of the Pension Unit of my Department have been in communication since 2 May 2021 with the individual concerned and with the Louth-Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), with regard to the person’s transfer of service. Statements of service had been previously supplied to the individual to share with the Department of Education. However, these statements do not have sufficient information to facilitate the official transfer of service. Whilst Transfer of Service details for this person were received by the Department of Education this week from Cavan Monaghan ETB, officials from my Department are currently awaiting the complete transfer of service details from LMETB and expect to receive this information shortly. Once the details of the transferrable service are received by the Department, the Pension Unit will update the Deputy directly, and will process this information expeditiously and issue a comprehensive statement to the individual concerned.
135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of the Capital Plan 2016-2021; the number of projects that remain to be commenced; her plans for the schools that need capital investment but are not included in the current plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29957/21]
View answerDuring the National Development Plan period 2018 to 2020, 526 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, which included permanent accommodation for 229 special classes and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country.
The Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large-Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). This includes circa 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. There are currently in excess of 200 projects currently at construction, most of which will be completed in 2021.
The current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department of Education and Skill’s website at www.education.ie and updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
The second half of the NDP (from 2023 onwards) will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock.
136. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the reason post-primary schools were directed to close for summer break on 28 May 2021 given the time already lost by students since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30007/21]
View answerFollowing discussions with the Education Partners it was agreed as part of the accredited grades process, that post-primary schools would close on 28 May this year rather than 4 June in order to complete the work required on accredited grades. The primary focus for the week beginning 31 May is the completion of the work required for Accredited Grades, in order to ensure that Leaving Certificate candidate this year can progress to further or higher education or the world of work.
137. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her officials have met with Meath County Council to commence the pre-planning process for additional buildings at a school (details supplied) and the pre-planning process for the permanent school building on the site; if an update will be provided on the purchase by her Department of the site; if she will agree to commence the planning process for the permanent building in parallel with the process for the additional temporary facilities; when the permanent building is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30021/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, agreement in principle has been reached to acquire a site for the permanent location of the school in question. The location of the permanent site will incorporate the current temporary site at Mill Road, Drogheda at which the school is currently located. Officials in my Department are working together to manage the site acquisition, interim accommodation and the development of the permanent school building in consultation with the landowner and Council officials to develop the required school facilities as expeditiously as possible.
I can confirm that the the school building project has moved to the delivery stage and a pre planning meeting has taken place with the Local Authority in relation to the planned development of the school site for both the interim and permanent accommodation. Once statutory approvals have been secured, the project will proceed to tender and construction stages.
The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, given the complexities involved it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition but my officials will endeavour to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her Department has agreed to allocate additional places for first year students at a school (details supplied) for the 2021-2022 school year; the number of first year places that will be allocated to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30022/21]
View answerMy Department is providing 4 additional general classrooms to the school in question which will facilitate the enrolments of 96 pupils for September 2021. I understand the school authority has offered 72 school places and do not propose to offer any additional places.
139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 26 May 2021, if she will make contact with the Chief State Solicitors Office with information (details supplied) and make efforts to expedite the work underway in respect of the transfer of lands to a local authority via the Chief State Solicitors Office in order for the process to proceed to build additional school buildings dedicated to the needs and education of children with autism. [30081/21]
View answerI understand from the school authority, that there is an issue around title to the property and that the local authority is working with a private individual to address this issue. As both the school site and the land in question are not in state ownership, my Department has no role in this matter. However, the information provided by the school authority has been forwarded to the CSSO.
140. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 18 May 2021, if her attention has been drawn to an issue in a number of schools whereby parents are seeking to object to the teaching of a programme (details supplied) by opting out of these lessons leaving their children to feel excluded; her views in relation to the merits of this programme.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30107/21]
View answerChoices regarding educational materials, textbooks and other educational products and services are made by individual schools and their boards of management, not by my Department. Schools have the autonomy to choose whatever resources they feel supports the delivery of the curriculum in their school. My Department does not endorse products or services from individual, commercial or other providers.
Schools are required to teach all aspects of the RSE programme, including family planning, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation. It is important to note that the ethos of the school should never preclude learners from acquiring the knowledge about the issues, but ethos may influence how that content is treated.
With the exception of Religion, which is addressed in circular letters 0013/18 and 0062/18, the matter of alternative provisions for pupils/student who are ‘opting out’ of any subject are dealt with locally, at the school level.
141. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the plans and drawings for the new temporary accommodation planned for a secondary school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30153/21]
View answerThe permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme.
A planning application for interim accommodation for the school on its permanent site was lodged on the 26th May 2021. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 during its public opening hours of Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm., and may also be viewed on the Council’s website – www.sdcc.ie.
Owing to a delay involved in obtaining a necessary legal consent from an adjacent landowner in order to lodge the planning application, my Department is also putting in place contingency arrangements for the school to be located in suitable interim accommodation at the local Community College site from August 2021 for a maximum of one academic year.
The interim accommodation, which includes specialist classrooms, SEN provision and ancillary accommodation, will be installed on the Community College site for the beginning of the 2021/22 school year using the planning exemption secured in March 2021. The brief for this has recently been issued to the patrons of the schools concerned.
It is the Department’s intention that the school will move into the interim accommodation on its permanent site as early as possible in the 2021/22 academic year and that the vacated interim accommodation on the Community College site will remain on site and will be available for use by the Community College thereafter.
My Department has communicated the plans to both school patrons and will continue to keep the patron bodies and the schools informed.
142. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether persons with epilepsy who lose their driver licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough seizures should be automatically given access to a free travel pass (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29919/21]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 996,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2021 is €95 million.
In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
Extending the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving cannot be considered in isolation. There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and, accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to address the high levels of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30100/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the experience of past recessions indicates that youth employment tends to be significantly impacted by any labour market shock. This is because many employers operate a "last in-first out" protocol when reducing their labour force. Moreover, in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on our youth is driven by the tendency for many younger people to work in some of the sectors most severely impacted by the pandemic; namely accommodation and food and retail.
Prior to the pandemic, seasonally adjusted youth unemployment (15-24 year olds) stood at just under 12% in December 2019. Latest estimates from the CSO, however, show that by the end of April 2021, this figure had increased to almost 16.8%. These estimates exclude those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Including all those in receipt of the PUP gives a COVID-19 adjusted unemployment rate estimate 61.8% for young people at the end of April.
A significant number of PUP recipients are students. As of this week, it is estimated that approximately 38,000 PUP recipients are students, with almost 90 percent of these in the under 25 cohort. Using international measures of unemployment, set by the International Labour Organisation, students are generally not counted as unemployed, as they are not considered part of the labour force. Therefore, the inclusion of recipients of PUP, including students, in the COVID-19 adjusted measure of youth unemployment inflates this measure.
While the employment of young people has been significantly affected by the pandemic, we also know from past recessions that youth unemployment levels typically fall quite quickly once economic activity resumes. In addition, the jobs of many persons currently on PUP will not be permanently lost due to the pandemic. Many have already and will continue to return to their previous employment as sectoral restrictions ease – as they did during previous easing of restrictions during 2020.
However, others will require assistance and support to return to employment, reskill and to find new jobs. As a consequence, my Department supports a range of initiatives to assist people, including young people, get back to work, as COVID-19 restrictions and their impact on the economy and labour market eases.
Under the Government’s national Economic Recovery Plan launched this week, a central focus of the recovery process will be on helping people get back to work, training or education by extending labour market supports, and through intense activation and skills opportunities. Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is currently being finalised by my Department for launch later this month, will be a key delivery mechanism of the Economic Recovery Plan’s second Pillar on ‘Helping People Back into Work’.
This forthcoming strategy focusses on helping people back into employment, training and education, thereby minimising the long-term scarring effects of the pandemic on the labour force for those whose jobs are permanently lost. It has an overall target of increasing the caseload of the Public Employment Service by 100,000 per annum.
Some of the key supports that will form part of the National Recovery Plan include:
- A new Work Placement Experience Programme, to reach 10,000 participants by end-2022, for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age.
- New Youth Employment Charter for intensive engagement with young jobseekers, building on the EU’s new Reinforced Youth Guarantee.
- Expanding the JobsPlus scheme to 8,000 places and enhancing the incentive to recruit young jobseekers in particular, by increasing the youth age limit from 25 to 30 years (with a 6 month duration of unemployment).
- Accelerating rollout of an additional 50,000 education and training places (15,000 increase on the July Jobs Stimulus commitment) to support jobseekers to upskill and reskill for the labour market.
With regard to apprenticeships, a significant recovery in apprenticeship registration numbers followed the introduction of the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme, which is continuing in 2021. In addition, the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, launched in April by my colleague Minister Harris, sets out a five-year strategy to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per year by 2025. The plan provides a roadmap to a single apprenticeship system and new supports for employers and apprentices, which will prove attractive for many young people.
Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the EU supported €114 million SOLAS Recovery Skills Response Programme will see a range of additional educational and training programmes rolled out as part of the Skills to Compete. This includes the establishment of the SOLAS Green Skills Action programme focusing on providing training to address climate and low carbon economy issues. This will ensure workers, including young people, have the necessary skills to be resilient and competitive in our changing economy.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
144. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied) that is calling for free travel passes to be provided for all those not permitted to drive due to their epilepsy diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30127/21]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 996,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2021 is €95 million.
In general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
While I am aware of the campaign by Epilepsy Ireland, extending the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy during the period in which they are disallowed from driving cannot be considered in isolation. There are a range of disabilities and medical conditions that can prevent a person from holding a driving licence and to award a free travel pass to any one of these conditions in isolation would immediately result in calls for all people who are not allowed to hold a driving licence because of their medical condition to receive the free travel pass and could result in challenges under the Equal Status Act.
If the Free Travel scheme were to be extended to all people who are not allowed to drive due to their disability, regardless of whether they receive a qualifying payment, a medical assessment process would be required for all such applications, significantly changing the nature of the scheme and requiring additional administrative processes to be put in place in order to adjudicate eligibility. Significant extra funding would also be required and, accordingly, it could only be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may award a travel supplement, where the circumstances of the particular case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the individual case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
145. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) does not qualify for the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29884/21]
View answerInvalidity Pension is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned submitted an application for Invalidity Pension on 19 September 2019. His application was disallowed and he was notified on the 27 November 2019. It was decided that the relevant year in his case is 2012. According to the Department’s records there are 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the contribution year prior to the relevant date (2011) and 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the second last year prior to the relevant date (2010). The person concerned was notified of the decision on 27 November 2019 and given the right to review/appeal.
The claim of the person concerned was reviewed and the original decision remained unchanged. He was notified of this decision on 23 January 2020 and as he had already submitted an Appeal in relation to the original decision, his file was then submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination by an Appeals Officer.
On 26 March 2020, the person concerned was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that his appeal was disallowed.
The decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in light of additional evidence or new facts.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
146. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the pension payment for elderly persons (details supplied). [29910/21]
View answerBoth of the persons concerned are currently in receipt of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). A weekly fuel allowance is also paid to the household during winter months.
The maximum rate of payment for State pension (contributory) was increased from €243.30 to €248.30 from 29 March 2019.
The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2020 was announced in October 2019 with a prudent approach to spending in the context of the UK’s imminent departure from the EU and its implications for Ireland. Therefore, there were no increases to any weekly social welfare payments in Budget 2020, including State pensions. However, there were increases of €2 per week to the fuel allowance and €5 per week to the living alone allowance, thus targeted at helping most vulnerable pensioners.
The Deputy will also be aware of the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Irish economy. Consequently, there were no increases to weekly social welfare payments in Budget 2021.
Any further changes in the rate of payment for the State pension will be considered in the overall budgetary context as it applies at budget time.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
147. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29956/21]
View answerThe Carer's Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers by my Department.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for the Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) from the person concerned on 17 May, 2021.
It is a condition of the Carers Support Grant that a carer must be providing full-time care to the care recipient for a continuous period of at least six months and this period must include the first Thursday in June.
As the person concerned stated that she commenced caring on 06 November 2020 and was not providing full-time care on the first Thursday in June, 2020, conditions were not satisfied for the Carers Support Grant for the year 2020. This application was disallowed and a letter issued to the person concerned on 31 May 2021, informing her of the decision and of her of her right of review and appeal.
The Carers Support Grant has been awarded to the person concerned for the year 2021 as the conditions for receipt of the grant have been met for the year 2021. The decision letter has issued on 31 May 2021 informing her of the decision and of her of her right of review and appeal.
Payment of the 2021 Carers Support Grant, which this year has been increased to € 1,850.00, will be paid shortly.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
148. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the operation of the household benefit package scheme for persons with a disability will be examined. [29994/21]
View answerThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain long term welfare payments such as invalidity pension, carer's allowance, disability allowance, blind pension and incapacity supplement.
The package consists of the gas and electricity element of the package and the free TV licence element. The gas and electricity element is paid at a rate of €35 per month. My Department will spend approximately €265 million this year on HHB for over 476,000 customers.
A person in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment such as disability allowance may retain their secondary benefits such as HHB when they transfer to an education and training board/national learning network course. However, entitlement to these secondary benefits must be established prior to their long term qualifying social welfare payment being stopped. A person cannot qualify for the HHB package while on a course.
The Disability Allowance of the person concerned was stopped in March 2020 when that person started an ETB/NLN course. As the person concerned was not receiving the HHB package before transferring from disability allowance to the training course, that person is not entitled to claim HHB at this time.
Any decision to allow a person aged under 66 to qualify for the HHB package while no longer in receipt of a qualifying payment would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to include driver training courses as part of the eligible items for grant support under the enterprise support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30010/21]
View answerThe Enterprise Support Grant is a fund which provides supports towards certain business start-up expenses for back to work enterprise allowance recipients who are commencing in self-employment. This grant is awarded with business start-up expenses where the costs have received prior approval from a Department case officer. The new Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant for the self-employed coming from PUP is available towards business re-start costs. This grant is not a training support.
There may be alternative grant support to assist with driver training such as the Training Support Grant which is designed to support quick access to short-term training where the training is not delivered by a State provider. The grant can be provided where an immediate skills gap is identified that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer or accessing other opportunities.
If there is a particular case that the Deputy is referring to, the details should be forwarded to my Department for review.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
150. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that are in receipt of part-time and casual jobseeker’s benefit, part-time and casual jobseeker’s allowance and short time work support payments for 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively per payment, per day, in tabular form. [30018/21]
View answerI am advised that information on jobseekers claims, including the Casual Jobseeker payments and Jobseeker's Benefit Short Time Work Support, is only available on a weekly basis, and that it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of days for which a person is receiving these payments. Information in respect of the number of recipients of these payments for the week ending 30th May 2021 is set out below.
|
- |
Short Time Work Support |
Casual Jobseeker's Benefit |
Casual Jobseeker's Allowance |
|
W/E 30th May 2021 |
3,930 |
14,394 |
18,405 |
151. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in relation to the proposed tendering process for local employment, activation and support services; if this process and the tender process currently under consideration seeks to replace the current services provided by existing jobs clubs and local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30020/21]
View answerA request for tender (RFT) for employment services for seven counties in the north-west and midlands was recently published. These new services, in areas of the State where no Local Employment Services (LES) currently operate, will constitute a significant expansion of employment services. My Department expects to have these new services up and running in the third quarter of this year.
Separately, the current contracts for all existing contracted public employment service provision expire at the end of 2021. These contracts have been in place, in many cases, for over 20 years, with no formal competitive procurement being undertaken over that period. This is not in compliance with the requirements of good governance or national and EU procurement rules. My Department is, therefore, developing a series of RFTs to be published later in the year. These will ensure that, with effect from 2022, the public employment service has sufficient capacity and can deliver a high-quality employment service in order to support all those who need our assistance and help in securing employment.
This is in line with detailed legal advice received by my Department that these employment services must be procured though open competitive procurement processes, in accordance with EU and national procurement rules. This advice is unequivocal and ignoring it would potentially expose my Department to legal challenge.
Organisations, including LES and Job Club providers, with strong experience in the delivery of similar services at a community and local level, will be in a strong position to work collaboratively in responding to the RFTs when they issue.
