Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s Public Employment Service is managed by my Department and delivered by its Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies such as JobPath, Local Employment Service, LES, and job club providers.

For 2017, as in 2016, my Department contracted with 22 private contractors for the provision of the LES in 25 locations and with 44 contractors for the provision of jobs clubs in four locations.

The importance my Department places on the role of LES and jobs clubs is reflected in the work undertaken to develop and enhance the services through contracts that were entered into for 2017.

Jobs clubs are intended for unemployed jobseekers that are identified as job ready. All participants on the formal workshops and CV preparation must be referred by the Department or LES.

The increased capacity provided through Intreo and JobPath and the reduction of the live register means the LES can now focus on offering an enhanced service to jobseekers. In line with best practice, and OECD benchmarks, smaller caseloads are key to the provision of the type of one-to-one intensive support and assistance that jobseekers benefit the most from, particularly the long-term unemployed.

The funding and total value of these contracts for the provision of the services has been continually maintained over the years, both through periods of economic downturn and in more recent years during a period where we have seen a welcome reduction in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, from a peak of 15.2% to 6.0%.

The LES and jobs clubs contracts are for a maximum of one year, January to December inclusive, and I can now advise the Deputy that we are committed to the provision of those services. The contract bid process for 2018 is underway and it is anticipated that there will be no changes, apart from the enhanced services. The volume of money and the number of people providing the service will be no different than heretofore.

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