Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I strongly support this motion to protect employment services from privatisation. I was greatly concerned to hear about the new tendering process that the Minister for Social Protection is introducing, which favours for-profit providers over the current community-focused non-profit providers.

This will affect those working in local employment services and jobs clubs, who have been loyal to the service for years and whose livelihoods are now potentially at risk. I have been contacted by staff in my constituency who are incredibly concerned. Services in areas such as Donegal are ending on 31 December, with no plan in place for the demobilisation of those services. This would be a huge blow to our community. The staff there have been left in limbo as they have not been informed of any new job opportunities or any potential redundancy that may be offered. It is completely unacceptable to have staff left in the dark, not knowing whether they will have a job in the new year. The Minister obviously has no sympathy or care for the stress and anxiety this is causing people. I urge her to give reassurances to those staff members as soon as possible.

By allowing a tendering process for the provision of these essential public services, she is failing to recognise the crucial knowledge and skills of the staff in this sector to support jobseekers, particularly those furthest from the labour market. This is particularly concerning at a time when youth unemployment is so high. Both SIPTU and Fórsa have called for a halt to this process but have been met with silence from the Department and the Minister. I completely disagree with allowing private companies to bid for State contracts. How many times must we allow this to happen before we realise it just does not work? We only have to look at the disastrous roll-out of fibre broadband to see that. It is clear that privatisation does not work, including in the provision of community services. I urge the Minister to commit to continuing to provide community-based, non-profit services to local jobseekers in our communities.

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