Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1232. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will engage with unions in relation to redundancy packages for staff affected by the recent tendering process for employment services ensuring that they are fair and higher than standard statutory redundancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40458/22]
View answerMy Department is engaged in a process, since 2019, of reviewing and expanding public employment services across the State. It has had well in excess of over 140 engagements with the community sector during this process. Senior officials from my Department have also had formal meetings with SIPTU and Forsa specific to the ongoing restructuring of services. My Department is not the employer of staff employed by Local Employment Services (LES), but my officials will continue to facilitate requests for meetings from trade union representatives concerning issues raised their members who are employed by contractors to my Department.
The preferred bidders for the new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services and the Intreo Partners National Employment Services have recently been notified of the outcome of the procurement process. The next step is to finalise contracts and the commencement of referrals to the new service. While the process is ongoing, my Department has extended the contracts of most LES and Job Clubs until the end of August.
In circumstances where existing providers chose not to bid for the new services or were unsuccessful then I would expect that, as a first option, providers should look to redeploy any staff affected to other functions within their organisations. As with any redundancy, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments. If an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties or insolvency, an application for payment from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) under the Redundancy Payments scheme can be submitted to the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Applications can be made through the welfare partners website www.welfarepartners.ie.
