Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020
19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the tendering process as part of the review of contracted public employment services; if there has been engagement between her Department and the JobPath providers to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19301/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraGabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Can the Minister provide an update on the tendering process as part of the review of contracted public employment services? Can the Minister state if she or her Department has had any engagement with the JobPath providers to date in 2020?
I thank the Deputy for raising this further matter. My Department engaged with external consultants in December 2019 to review all current contracted public employment services, PES, including local employment services. The consultants' report, currently being finalised, will help inform the Government's approach on the future structure of all contracted PES. It is essential that we ensure all our public employment services are fit-for-purpose and provide value-for-money. This must be balanced against the pressing need to ensure that these key services are fully in place when needed by those who have lost their jobs as a result of the ongoing public health crisis.
Any provision of contracted public employment services in 2021 is in the context of managing and responding to the labour market impacts of Covid-19. What is clear is the need to ensure we have sufficient capacity within the public employment service to provide a high quality service to help individuals back into employment.
Last week, as part of the July stimulus package, the Government announced that it would be investing an additional €43 million into the public employment service to enhance our capacity.
While I have not yet had the opportunity to meet any of the contractors, officials in my Department engage on a regular basis with all contracted public employment service providers, including the JobPath contractors, to discuss all aspects of contract monitoring and delivery.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. First, can the Minister give any indication as to when the consultants’ report will be completed and published in order that we and the Minister can examine it?
I am glad she mentioned value for money. I ask that she look at JobPath and the costs associated with the scheme, if it is to be extended as part of what has been mentioned in the July stimulus, and focus on contracted services as part of getting people back to work. This time last year, 226,851 people had been referred to JobPath. Some of them had been referred three, four or five times. Some 51,548 of these people commenced employment, but only just over 14,000 had the employment sustained for one year. This time last year, JobPath had cost over €182 million and 6% of referrals had obtained employment that lasted for a year. I ask that JobPath be considered in the context of whether it offers value for money.
The Deputy is correct. Some 287,000 people are still on the PUP. We hope that as the economy continues to reopen, more people will return to work. The unfortunate reality is, however, that not all of them will be able to return to the jobs they had before the onset of Covid-19. There are also 220,000 people on the live register, so my focus will be on supporting those individuals in getting back into employment. That is why, as part of the July stimulus package, the Minister with responsibility for higher education, Deputy Harris, and I announced a €200 million package that will be used to help people reskill and retrain. It will provide for up to 80,000 new training and education places, including an additional 35,500 places in the higher and further education sectors, with 45,500 new employment support places being created.
Will the Minister outline clearly the engagement between departmental officials and JobPath providers? I appreciate that it is consistent. Have there been discussions about extending referrals to JobPath? I would appreciate an answer in that regard.
I raise this matter because I met representatives of the Irish Local Development Network recently, which has clearly demonstrated its capacity to take 150,000 client referrals through job clubs and local employment services. I really want us to take a not-for-profit and community-based approach to job activation schemes. The real plus I see with the local employment service in particular but also with job clubs is that it is not just about getting a person into any job. It is about well-being and there are extra supports for people, especially as we come out of this Covid-19 emergency. We really need to protect these community-based and not-for-profit services. Will the Minister look at those? Has there been engagement between her officials and JobPath providers on extending referrals?
As the Deputy knows, the Department engages external consultants. The report currently being finalised will inform the Government's decision on a future structure. Once the report is ready, decisions will be taken on the best approach to ensuring we have the necessary capacity to ensure the public employment service can provide a quality operation. As I stated, my officials will come to me with a full report on that. When I have it, I will make a decision.
