Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy wants me to answer whether we have designed and have specific recommendations or conditions in a tender when we do not know what we are tendering for. I will answer his specific question on the payment-by-result model. The model has its own merits but it is only one model. Based on the range of people we need to serve, we need many models. I do not know how many times I have to say this before the Deputy will acknowledge our bona fides in what we are trying to do. I am not trying to send everybody to JobPath. There are some people the service does not suit. There are some whom we have not even reached yet and it will not be beneficial to send them to JobPath until we send them to other levels of supports and services. If the Deputy fears that all services will be disbanded in the morning leaving JobPath as the only remaining service, he has nothing to worry about. JobPath is a very successful model but it is only one of the models we use. We have extremely successful other services that we continue to work with, which are full of experience, expertise, advice and empathy. There are many different models that are working exceptionally well. We need to tweak some of them for this generation, enhance others and move to multi-annual contracts to ensure people do not worry about whether they will get their money next year or the year after that. What we are trying to do is improve the range of models and services that we are offering, not undermine, threaten or give anybody the willies. We are trying to improve the level of services offered by the State, while recognising the complete level of requirement and changing requirements the people we serve have today. That is all we are trying to do. There is nothing to be scared of.