Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
377. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands Examination of Employment Services November 2021 will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58314/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received a copy of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands entitled 'Examination of Employment Services'. As requested in one of the recommendations of the report, I will respond formally to the report in due course once I have had the opportunity to fully reflect upon it.
I appreciate the Joint Committee's strong interest in employment services and their engagement with both myself and my officials as they considered their findings. However, I note that there are some inaccuracies in the report, where evidence from other witnesses to the Committee are repeated and are not factually accurate. One such example is the suggestion that my Department had not engaged with SIPTU prior to the 17th September 2021. My Department first met with SIPTU on this issue in 2019 and have had other meetings in advance of the 17th September 2021.
I look forward to responding to the Joint Committee in detail on their recommendations. It is clear we are all seeking to provide the best route to employment for those people who face serious and continuing challenges to returning to the labour market.
However, given the need to expand employment service provision across the State, to strengthen governance in the delivery of employment service provision and to ensure that such provision is placed on a sound legal-footing, thereby meeting the State's legal obligations, my Department must procure employment services provision in an open and competitive manner.
