Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We now proceed to an engagement with the Minister on the matter of procurement for local employment services, a matter that has very much exercised the members of this committee over the past number of months. I ask members to be concise in their questioning and bear in mind that this questioning must conclude by 11.30 a.m. Before bringing in members, I say to the Minister that the regional employment service is set to replace the existing jobs clubs and local employment services. These have been assisting communities across the country for the past 25 years both in urban and rural areas.

Research commissioned by the Minister's Department that was carried out independently by Indecon indicates attendance at local employment services have been beneficial to those who have used the services. The concern is we are going to deny people access to a walk-in, person-centred and community-based employment service, to be replaced with a profit-driven, results-based process that will happen on referral only. Members of Dáil Éireann have consistently criticised this model since it was first introduced nearly a decade ago.

We will now take questions from members before I ask the Minister to respond. The first member who has indicated is Deputy Ó Cathasaigh and he will be followed by Deputy Paul Donnelly.