Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
840. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide further details of her plans as contained in the July stimulus to enhance public employment service capacity across the Intreo system including contracted services; the contracted services to which she is referring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20078/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI very much welcome the Jobs Stimulus package which sets out the Government’s substantial response to the Covid-19 crisis to provide an impetus to our economic recovery.
My Department’s contribution to that impetus will be to support people without jobs. My Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education and Training, Innovation and Research will invest €200 million in: training and education, skills development, a work placement and experience programme, recruitment subsidies and job search advice and assistance services. The purpose of this new investment, along with the financial provision already in place for these measures, is to help those who have lost jobs to find new employment or retraining opportunities or to develop new skills.
Given the sharp increase in unemployment in recent months there is a requirement to increase the capacity of the Intreo Public Employment Service to support jobseekers through jobsearch advice and assistance services.
My Department will finalise, over the coming weeks, how it will increase this capacity. This will include additional case officer staff in Intreo Centres and increasing the capacity of the Local Employment Services contracted providers. My officials will be discussing this with these providers and other providers over the coming weeks and will have regard to the appropriate procurement and contract requirements.
