Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
775. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on progress made so far in integrating the social welfare system with the availability of employment services to ensure that persons are given the opportunity to be active in their job search; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38446/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Department is currently establishing the new National Employment and Entitlements Service (NEES) which integrates employment and benefit payment services. Considerable progress has been made in establishing this new service. However, full implementation across all locations will take a number of years to complete.
The first step in establishing the NEES was integrating staff from FÁS, the Community Welfare Service into the Department. This was followed by a number of developments including one-stop shop trials in four locations, the development of new service processes, the development of an employer engagement strategy, training to support the changes and the development of a number of important supports and IT projects to help streamline services to customers. In addition the roll-out of the Public Service Card which is currently underway will greatly facilitate the development of the new integrated service.
The first four locations for the one stop shop trials are King’s Inns/Parnell St.(Dublin city centre), Tallaght, Arklow and Sligo, with a further number of locations due to provide the NEES service by the end of the year. As part of the new service, clients receive a single decision on their welfare entitlements, are assessed to determine their employment services requirements and, following assessment, attend a group interview with subsequent one-to-one interviews. The number and frequency of one to one interviews is designed to meet the jobseeker’s particular requirements. Clients who do not engage with the process are placed on a penalty rate of payment.
While the new service is currently been trialled and implemented in four locations, it is envisaged that following these trials a considerable number of offices will begin to deliver the new service. In addition, where practicable, elements of the new integrated service will be implemented more widely in offices throughout the country.
