I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 255, inclusive, together.
Following on from a review of public employment services in my Department, my officials have commenced a series of procurement exercises to secure appropriate services to engage with the long-term unemployed and other cohorts throughout the State.
The deadline for the submissions of tenders for the first phase has just passed, with tenders sought for a Regional Employment Service, with four lots covering seven counties in the Midlands and the North-West. Any learnings from this process will feed into the second phase.
The second phase, still under development, will see the expansion of the Regional Employment Service throughout the State, as well as the procurement of additional employment services on a national level through a separate request for tenders.
The Regional Employment Service is aimed at cohorts furthest from the labour market and has been designed to be accessible to tenders from the community and voluntary sector, giving due regard to their experience and competencies.
As the request for tenders is still under development, I am not in a position to reveal details of the forthcoming phase two procurement for employment services. However, as with phase one, the emphasis on designing a request for tender that places no obstacles to the community and voluntary sector will remain a guiding principle.