Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

JobBridge has been a very successful programme, both for the participants and small and medium enterprises, SMEs. The closing date for the receipt of tenders was 19 October 2015 and the tender evaluation process has been completed. The Department has notified the preferred tenderer and in accordance with procurement guidelines is now observing the mandatory 14 days standstill period before the contract can be formally awarded. It is anticipated that the project will formally commence on 24 November and it will comprise a comprehensive qualitative assessment of host organisations and participants' perspective on the quality and future of JobBridge, including the one-to-one case studies.

I have met many of the groups that have issued reports and they also had positive feedback as well as negative. That is why it is so important that an evaluation is done in order that we can proceed on the basis of evidence. I expect to have the evaluation completed early in the new year and then we can have a proper conversation on how we can improve and progress the process.

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