Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
650. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding schemes under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41425/21]
View answer686. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by the Local Employment Services Network regarding the new Pathway to Work Strategy; if she will meet the group to discuss its concerns; if her attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to the payment by results model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42135/21]
View answer688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give urgent attention to serious matters of concern raised by a community organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42173/21]
View answer705. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter regarding jobs clubs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42439/21]
View answer706. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the future of local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42441/21]
View answer712. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will engage with the local employment services and job clubs and their staff representatives on the future of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42590/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 650, 686, 688, 705, 706 and 712 together.
Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State consistent with the new Pathways to Work 2021-2025 strategy.
The focus throughout this exercise is the customer, their needs and how they can be met through customer-centric services delivering the necessary supports in their journey to employment. My Department is conscious of the need to have supports in place at the time that the customer needs them and to be able to respond rapidly to changes in the labour market and the demand for services.
The procurement process was preceded by extensive engagement both at Ministerial and official level and all stakeholders were given the opportunity to share their views and suggestions on the Department's plans to procure quality employment services in an open and competitive manner. At my instruction Departmental officials are continuing to engage with the relevant stakeholders including the ILDN, non ILDN service providers and employee representatives.
Phase one of the process, involving the procurement of a Regional Employment Service for four lots over seven counties in the Midlands and North-East - areas currently without a local employment service - is at an advanced stage. Phase two will follow in due course with the aim of having services in place for early 2022.
I am committed to ensuring my Department incorporates the lessons learned in the first phase of procurement and engages once more with a broad range of stakeholders prior to the commencement of the phase 2 procurement. Any learnings from phase 1 will be incorporated into phase 2 to ensure there are no barriers to the participation of the community and voluntary sector.
Nonetheless, the legal requirement to hold competitive tenders for future employment services remains and the procurement model will update decades-old contracts in line with procurement regulations.
The design of the request for tender for the Regional Employment Service, places significant value on an organisations ability to deliver a wide range of services locally through a range of other service providers and has been developed to ensure it is accessible to tenders from the community and voluntary sector, giving due regard to their experience and competencies.
