Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:380. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if Intreo offices may make referrals to local employment services. [3828/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 January 2014
Ceisteanna (380, 381, 382)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:381. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if the number of NEAP referrals by her Department to local employment services will be affected by the establishment of JobPath; the ongoing and future role of LESs in terms of categories and numbers of persons referred to them. [3829/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:382. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding from her Department to local employment services will not be reduced upon the establishment of JobPath. [3830/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 382, inclusive, together.
Intreo is a single point of contact for all employment and income supports. Intreo offices provide a more streamlined approach with tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers and employers alike. Intreo offices currently refer jobseekers to Local Employment Services (LES) and will continue to do so when JobPath becomes operational.
Under the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP), people in receipt of jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance who reached three months duration on the live register were identified and referred for activation. Intreo clients are referred for activation at an earlier stage and as such these arrangements now supersede the NEAP arrangements.
JobPath is the Government’s new programme of labour market activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.
JobPath will be delivered by third party providers of employment services under contract to the Department. It is important to note that the intention in establishing JobPath is not to displace existing resources either within the Department or the LES but rather to complement and augment these resources and thereby increase our capacity to provide supports to assist jobseekers in obtaining employment.
A request for tenders issued on 12 December 2013 with a closing date of 28 February 2014. Taking account of the time required for the tender evaluation process and the time required by contractors to set up operations it is expected that JobPath will commence operations towards the end of the year.
The LES contracting process for 2014 will be completed over the coming weeks. The funding provided for 2104 has been maintained at the same level as in 2013. The Department intends to continue its contractual arrangements with LES providers following the introduction of JobPath. I should also point out that LES providers are free to participate in JobPath should they so wish.