Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
136. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 17 May 2022, the status of phase 2 of the procurement process for the new local area employment service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34631/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the preferred bidders for the new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services have today been notified, bringing closer the date of a roll-out of phase 2 employment services. In particular, specialised employment services for those farthest from the labour market - previously available in just twelve counties - will soon be available State-wide for the first time.
This procurement process was preceded by extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including the community sector providers and their representative body, the ILDN. Each existing provider was visited on site by my officials and asked for their views on the way forward for the best provision of employment services while there has also been engagement with the staff representative bodies. In addition, the external consultants engaged by the Department to assist in the restructuring of these services also consulted with existing providers.
My Department extended the deadline for the Requests for Tenders to 25 April to ensure all interested parties, including the community sector, had sufficient time to prepare quality tender responses that reflect their experience and capacity to deliver a quality service.
My Department will now engage with the preferred bidders with a view to signing contracts and establishing new services at the earliest opportunity.
