Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about a specific commitment in the programme for Government to increase the availability of activation schemes, including those run by local employment services, LES. Far from increasing their availability, local employment services, along with job clubs, are being dismantled. The Taoiseach will know that many of those involved in local employment services - I see them in Ballaghaderreen and Ballinasloe in my constituency, while the Taoiseach will have seen similar people in his constituency - have given 25 years of service and dedication and they are vastly experienced.

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has repeatedly told me there was an EU requirement that required her to procure and tender out for local employment services and job clubs. The directive and the European Commission have been clear, however, that member states are not obliged to contract out the provision of services where they wish to provide them themselves. Regardless, even if there was a requirement to tender for these services, there is no requirement to change the model.

We are removing the community, not-for-profit basis that has worked so well and moving to a payment-by-results model, which we have already seen through JobPath has not worked. More than 320,000 people have been referred to JobPath, 6.8% of whom have sourced employment that has lasted for a year, at a cost of €250 million to taxpayers. The Taoiseach knows the local employment services and job clubs in his constituency, as I do in mine. They are being dismantled. It is going to remove the walk-in and wrap-around services being provided. For some people, it is not a case of getting a job or any job. Some people require wrap-around services they could get through the LES and the job clubs within their community. That will now be gone.

I know the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, has raised this issue with the Taoiseach. I would like to get his views on this matter because, to date, the relevant joint committee and the Committee of Public Accounts have not been listened to regarding the LES and job clubs. We want to see the community-based, not-for-profit model, which has worked, being retained.

See this speech in context