Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Existing contracts with employment service partners, including the local employment service and jobs clubs, expire at the end of the year. I want to ask the Tánaiste about the procurement process and the finalisation of the tender design for next year. I have met with my local jobs club team and I know the great work and service Carlow Jobs Club offers and has offered for the past 22 years. The jobs club is protected under the Carlow County Development Partnership. These are essential community services. They are community-rooted, not-for-profit services and nobody can deny they have supported jobseekers, especially in disadvantaged areas. The push from Government to privatise these services is troubling. It is very worrying. The move to trial a new service by public tender has been criticised by SIPTU and the Irish Local Development Network. I would like to know what is being done to support these services. We have to continue these services.

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