Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
427. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if the concerns outlined in correspondence by organisations (details supplied) in relation to the tender for jobs clubs and the potential job losses will be examined and addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3017/22]
View answerMy Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases.
Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service. Contracts were signed last month and services are in the process of being mobilised.
Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the publication in December of a request for tender for seventeen lots covering 19 counties. Services for this phase will begin in July 2022.
Throughout the process of preparing this new procurement of employment services, my focus and the focus of my officials has been on ensuring the long-term unemployed throughout the State have access to quality employment services. Given the partial geographical coverage of the existing services and their decades-old contractual basis with associated legal deficiencies, significant reforms were required to make these services available throughout the State, in a manner that is consistent with the Department's legal obligations.
I am well aware of the uncertainty of a competitive procurement process for existing service providers and their staff. However, by its very nature, I cannot at this stage predict outcomes in terms of future service providers and future staffing arrangements. Nonetheless, the new services, with their multi-annual contracts and State-wide coverage, will provide greater certainty for all once established.
The tender process, with its overwhelming emphasis on quality over cost, is well-geared to ensuring that the long-term unemployed are provided a quality service by those best qualified to do so. The existing providers will therefore be well placed to work to submit joint competitive bids under the ongoing procurement process.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
