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

Statutory redundancy will be made available, as it is to most workers, albeit it will be limited. I am speaking about redundancy beyond the statutory redundancy because some of these workers have given 20, and in some cases, 25 years of dedication. During that time they have educated themselves and retrained and they are highly skilled workers who deserve better. The tender has gone ahead and the second phase is well under way.

I refer to those four areas that were tendered in the first phase and which the Minister referenced. Can the Minister outline what number of staff we are looking at in those four areas and what number of staff will be retained? I acknowledge that in some cases the new provider will offer employment to the staff who are currently there but where they do not want to take up that employment will they impeded in redundancy and in access to the likes of the jobseeker's benefit and allowance?

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