Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 April 2014
29. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the risks referenced by her in response to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 11 March 2014 to future delivery of community employment schemes and local employment services in the context of the decision to subject the local community development and rural development programmes to open competitive tendering including private for-profit operators. [17652/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated previously, local development companies support the delivery of a range of programmes and schemes for the Department of Social Protection. The Department will work closely with representatives of the companies and the Irish Local Development Network over the coming months as the implications of the new procurement requirements are determined by individual companies. The Deputy will appreciate that the risks referenced in my reply to question 267 of 11 March 2014 relate to those that have yet to be identified by the companies. The position of the Department of Social Protection will be influenced by the evaluation by the companies of the impact of any changes and the associated risk to the delivery of Department of Social Protection funded programmes that emerge. Discussions with the companies will continue to identify the risks and to support the development of mitigating responses from the changes arising.
