Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to research (details supplied) which suggests that procuring public employment services through performance-based contacting will result in community sector organisations losing out to larger cash-rich firms with detrimental impacts on the unemployed who rely on the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38523/22]
View answerMy Department engaged with the Institute of Employment Studies and Social Finance in 2019 to research and develop best practice models for new employment services. These bodies have established track-records of helping governments develop fit-for-purpose employment services. My Department engaged with these consultants, ensuring their proposals were appropriately configured for the Irish market, reflecting the unique strengths of the providers of employment services here while respecting the legal requirement for competitive procurement. As part of their work the consultants engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders including those delivering the local employment service contracts.
Prior to this engagement Indecon had undertaken extensive reviews of both the Local Employment Service and Job Club services. The findings from the Indecon reviews in 2018 were factored into the design of the revised contracted public employment service model.
One of the innovations of the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service is the minimising of the performance-based payment elements of the payment for services aimed at those farthest from the labour market. This recognises the challenges these clients face is securing employment, giving employment services the space and time to address the obstacles to employment without penalising the providers financially. This approach reflects both the input of external consultants and the Department's own extensive engagement with stakeholders.
I am confident that the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service, once rolled out across the State in the coming months, will significantly expand high quality employment service provision across the entire State for the first time. It will engage with and support those farthest for the labour market with personalised solutions that addresses their obstacles to progressing towards employment.
