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

I understand the Deputy's concerns. I reassure her that I have done everything I can to ensure the importance of social value and community linkages are reflected in the procurement process. We have engaged extensively with the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, yet we hear that some of its members seem not to have received the information that we have given.

The one issue we must remember is that the jobseeker is at the heart of the process. It is the person who is long-term unemployed. Such people are number one and it is crucial that they get the supports they need.

The intention is to extend the local employment services across the State. Currently, there are 14 counties with no local employment service and a further three counties that only have services in big urban areas, namely, Cork, Galway and Bray, County Wicklow. What we want to do is to improve the outcome for the customer and at the same time to work with local providers. I have done everything I can to ensure the importance of social value. There were lessons from the first round across a number of areas and we have taken them on board. I am doing everything I can to make sure that the user gets the best possible service.

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