Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
232. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if a process has been established in writing to establish the learnings from the RFT 1 on local employment services; the timeline for same; the persons and bodies that will be involved; and if stakeholder voices will be included. [38326/21]
View answerFollowing a review of public employment services by external consultants and in the context of expiring contracts for the provision of existing public employment services at the end of 2021, my Department is undertaking a significant procurement exercise over two phases.
The first phase, already underway, focuses on the expansion of employment services in seven counties in the North-West and Midlands currently without a local employment service. The deadline for the submission of tenders for this Regional Employment Service model recently passed and the evaluation process will begin shortly.
The second phase entails the extension of the Regional Employment Services model throughout the rest of the State, as well as consideration of a replacement of the JobPath service.
As the procurement process for Phase 1 is still ongoing, my officials are already reviewing the process for any lessons that can be taken from it, and will continue to do so as we move through the phases.
My Department has - and will continue to in the future - engaged with relevant external bodies as appropriate, while respecting the integrity of the procurement process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
