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Public Procurement Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2021

Thursday, 25 November 2021

Ceisteanna (64)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

64. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement her Department has had with other Departments on the public tendering process for local employment services. [50091/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first phase of procuring new employment services.

For clarity, I would like to state that my Department has sole responsibility for the functioning of public employment services both internally through my Department's Intreo service and through services contracted by the Department.

My Department has had extensive engagement with a broad range of stakeholders in relation to this procurement process, both at Ministerial and official level since 2018. There has been continual engagement with stakeholders through numerous meetings with the representative body, the ILDN, and other stakeholders.

My Department has also had continual engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to expenditure items and through the Office of Government Procurement, which operates under the aegis of that Department.

My Department also engaged with external consultants who prepared a comprehensive report on the options available to the Department is procuring employment services that were consistent with best international practices and provided value for money for taxpayers while retaining the key features of a service that can engage with the long-term unemployed and others distant from the labour market. In preparing this report the consultants engaged with a range of the Department's current service partners and academics.

Question No. 65 answered with Question No. 31.
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