Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for his questions. I will give some further reassurances on the local area employment services. I hear the Deputies comments and I am taking them on board. We have been down this road a few times and the legal advice from the Attorney General is very clear. These services have to go to tender. In the first phase, community organisations won out in two of the three areas i which they submitted bids. That shows clearly that community organisations can win these contracts. As the Deputies will know, the requests for tenders for phase 2 were published in December. Following feedback from the sector, a number of changes were made in the requests for tender, including increasing the marks awarded for quality to 80% and reducing the cost to 20% from 25% in phase 1. There is also a minimum cost component in the request for tender below which no bids are accepted. This dilutes the significance of the cost element in the request for tender. We have now done that.

The tender for phase 2 also contains significant increases in the minimum annual referral numbers. These are all issues that members have raised with me. The requirements for reference contracts and minimum turnover have also been reduced. The number of lots has been increased under phase 2 based on feedback. Between phase 1 and phase 2, the total number of lots is now 21. The lots and the geographic areas are now much smaller, with many of them mirroring Dáil constituencies or the areas covered by education and training boards, ETBs. For example, we have Cavan-Monaghan, Louth-Meath and Carlow-Kilkenny.

It is no longer a regional service, which is why it is now called the local area employment service.

The Department has also extended the period for parties to make a submission to the request for tender. The deadline is 29 March. This was done at was at the request of stakeholders to give them additional time to work collaboratively on submitting joint bids. Many in the sector have welcomed these changes. In my opinion, the existing providers are in an excellent position to bid successfully for the new local area employment service. As I said, 80% of evaluation marks will be awarded based on quality community linkages and social value. I know there are concerns and I reassure Deputies that I have taken them on board and incorporated many of them in phase 2.

There was a question on the workplace experience programme. Covid meant the take-up of the programme was not as great as we had expected. Obviously, many sectors were just trying to keep going during Covid and did not take up the offer. I had intended to hold road shows around the country to create awareness so that employers and people looking for work could be connected. We anticipate that participation in the programme will continue to increase over the coming months. Public sector bodies will be invited to support the programme.

The Department commenced a public information campaign designed to inform employers, business owners and jobseekers about the work placement experience programme. I intend to go around the country and I would be happy for Deputies to join me at any of the events we will hold, if I am in their area, to raise awareness. We want to connect people who are looking for work with those who want workers. There are different incentives both to employers and those who are currently on jobseeker's payments who will get extra money for availing of these programmes. I would like to think there will be a keen interest in that in the coming months. I think I have covered all the questions. I will pass over to the Minister of State.