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

The Deputy's colleague, Deputy Kerrane, raised the issue of local employment services earlier, and I responded to her. I will come back to that.

Time spent on PUP will count towards eligibility for various employment supports, which is very important. Activation measures include training, work placement programmes and employment schemes. The time spent on the PUP by recipients allows them to qualify for all of the support schemes that are available. As people move off the PUP, we will give them that option and suggest that they may wish to try a particular road. We are here to help.

As regards local employment services, the Deputy knows the story. We expanded the service and put it out to tender. I hope to announce the results of that tender shortly. The truth is that I have the legal advice. If I could leave this alone, I would quite happily do so but, unfortunately, the legal advice is that the procurement process cannot continue in its current format as it is against the rules. We have to do it. We have had significant engagement with the local employment services and will continue to do so in the context of this process.

See this speech in context