Local Employment Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012

Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Ceisteanna (460)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

460. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection following the re branding of the National Employment and Entitlements Service into Intreo without a single mention of the Local Employment Service, if her attention has been drawn to the tender document for the commercial provision of employment services in Ireland from her Department it said that The Department provides employment services directly to clients through its own offices and indirectly through contracted arrangements with non-profit organisations who deliver Local Employment Services and the potential to augment the capacity of the Department’s and LES capacity to provide one-to-one guidance services through contracting with the private sector is being examined, hence this request for tenders,in view of these statements if she will confirm her continued support and maintenance of the excellent quality Local Employment Services. [47460/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

INTREO is the new employment activation and supports service model which integrates the employment services and community programmes formerly of FÁS; the Community Welfare Services (CWS) formerly of the HSE and the income support services provided by the Department itself. The delivery of employment services at local level is an integral part of the new INTREO service. The Department currently contracts with 23 Local Development Companies and 1 community organisation for the provision of local employment services in 24 locations. These organisations play an important role in the delivery of employment services and given the urgent need to address unemployment, the intention is to enhance employment services at local level and not reduce such services. In this regard, the Department is currently engaged in a procurement process from which it intends to appoint expert advisor(s) to assist with the design and delivery of employment service provision, on a contracted basis with external providers, as envisaged under the Pathways to Work strategy. It is expected that the initial design will be completed in the first quarter of 2013 and thereafter the question of procuring additional employment services in line with this design will be considered.