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

I thank the Deputy for raising this further matter. My Department engaged with external consultants in December 2019 to review all current contracted public employment services, PES, including local employment services. The consultants' report, currently being finalised, will help inform the Government's approach on the future structure of all contracted PES. It is essential that we ensure all our public employment services are fit-for-purpose and provide value-for-money. This must be balanced against the pressing need to ensure that these key services are fully in place when needed by those who have lost their jobs as a result of the ongoing public health crisis.

Any provision of contracted public employment services in 2021 is in the context of managing and responding to the labour market impacts of Covid-19. What is clear is the need to ensure we have sufficient capacity within the public employment service to provide a high quality service to help individuals back into employment.

Last week, as part of the July stimulus package, the Government announced that it would be investing an additional €43 million into the public employment service to enhance our capacity.

While I have not yet had the opportunity to meet any of the contractors, officials in my Department engage on a regular basis with all contracted public employment service providers, including the JobPath contractors, to discuss all aspects of contract monitoring and delivery.

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