Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 9 December 2021
Public Accounts Committee
2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Management of Social Welfare Appeals
Chapter 11 - Controls Over the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
9:30 am
Mr. John McKeon:
The lots have not been finalised yet. We held a briefing a couple of weeks ago based on the outcome of the first phase and we are considering that feedback. I cannot answer the Chair definitively. As he is aware, the midlands region was in the first phase. I cannot answer that but the intention is that there will be more lots than the consultants recommended. I emphasise that I have spoken personally with a number of different local employment service and jobs club providers, and I encourage them to collaborate. We saw the outcome of successful collaborations in the first phase.