John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2015, the LES saw 30,321 referrals. In 2016, it saw 19,867 referrals. Every county in the State, with one exception, experienced a reduction in referrals in the space of a year. People working in the LES are deeply concerned about the Minister's intentions for the LES and its sustainability into the future. If reductions continue at this scale, it will call into question the viability of the LES across the State. They are not my views or concerns, although I share the concerns, but the views and concerns of LES officers. The Minister said the reason for cutting the number of referrals is to provide a more intensive service to clients. That is like cutting an employee's hours from 40 to 15 hours and telling them it is to make them work a little harder and to be more productive. However, the Minister is doing nobody in the LES any favours whatsoever, nor is he giving any benefits to people who are referred to the services. What consultation has the Minister carried out with employment services throughout the State? I do not believe there has been any. I have spoken to LES officers and there has been no consultation with them. What consultation took place before the cut in the number of referrals?

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