Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy McCormack. Our national employment strategy, Pathways to Work, sets out the Government’s approach to supporting jobseekers to prepare for, access and take up employment opportunities. In line with this strategy, my Department’s Intreo employment services throughout the country engage with jobseekers to support them to find work. The Government has provided in excess of €657 million for employment supports in 2025.

A total of 2,930 people in Offaly were on the live register in March 2025. Intreo staff in Tullamore and Edenderry, together with the Department's service partners, Intreo partners, offer an individualised employment service to these customers. The externally contracted employment service provision provides the Department with additional support capacity to meet current and future needs. These externally contracted services are provided through offices in Tullamore, Edenderry and Birr. As the Deputy will be aware, one of the largest Intreo partner providers is headquartered just across the county border in Roscrea.

Employment personal advisors engage with jobseekers on a one-to-one basis to develop a personal progression plan, which will identify steps the jobseeker must take to support them to progress to sustainable employment. There is a range of supports on offer, including further education, training and upskilling options, financial support such as the training and support grant and programmes like the work placement experience programme, community employment and Tús.

The Department works closely with employers to help them fill vacancies and to place unemployed jobseekers and other welfare recipients, including people with disabilities, into these vacancies. In Offaly, 14 jobseeker events took place during 2024, ranging from recruitment events to information sessions and to date in 2025, five events have taken place, including two recruitment events for healthcare and construction. The Intreo teams in Tullamore and Edenderry are available to assist customers in their transition to employment and will assess the appropriate support having regard to the individual’s skills, education and employment opportunities. I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff in my Department for their ongoing work in Offaly.trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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