Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the ongoing efforts to expand employment services in the State. I acknowledge that existing service providers are concerned about the future contracting of public employment services and I look forward to discussing this issue with the Deputy.

The Department of Social Protection is procuring a regional employment service, RES, over two phases. Phase 1 will see the new service commence in seven counties in the north west and midlands from January 2022. Phase 2, to commence shortly, will roll out the RES model throughout the rest of the State. This is a significant expansion of the State's public employment service capacity, with phase 2 services expected to commence from July 2022. The RES will primarily engage with the long-term unemployed, particularly those furthest from the labour market. When completed, the procurement will see the replacement of the local employment service, which currently services just eight counties in their entirety and another four counties partially, with a regional service covering all 26 counties. This is a welcome and significant expansion of employment services, providing comprehensive engagement, for the first time, for those furthest from the labour marker throughout the State.

The Department of Social Protection has signalled these changes for several years now, particularly since the publication of the 2018 Indecon reviews. There has been continuous engagement with local development companies and other relevant stakeholders since 2018 by the Minister and her officials. The latter have visited every single service provider in the State and the providers have understood for some time that the Department is changing how employment services are procured. In addition, the Department frequently meets with the Irish Local Development Network and has had intensive discussions with it on these issues. In early November, parties interested in tendering for the current phase were hosted by a Department webinar, involving more than 150 participants. After a presentation on the procurement phases, questions were taken for more than an hour. While the procurement process is competitive, in line with legal requirements, the numerous local and community bodies already supplying similar services on behalf of their communities will be well positioned to tender for the new lots and will, if successful, continue to deliver those services in their communities.

The RES lots will remain on a county or bi-county basis, where feasible, and function on a sustainable basis to provide the most appropriate service for the long-term unemployed. They will remain accessible and locally available services. Just as local employment services sprang up in response to unemployment blackspots in the 1990s, the RES is being designed to respond to the challenges facing the Irish labour market today. The key requirement in the request for tenders is quality of service in order to ensure that those who are long-term unemployed receive the quality service they deserve. The procurement will ensure the State adopts best practices when it comes to engaging with those furthest from the labour market. I have heard the same concerns that the Deputy expressed and I thank him for raising them.

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