Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a random selection process, and their payment is based on a results model. It incentivises both the company and the individual through the programme they deliver. It incentivises both to achieve sustainable employment. These are not job placements in schemes. This is sustainable employment. This is the most challenging cohort on the live register to deal with, and it comes at a cost. I do not have the figures, and I understand the reason it might not be appropriate to publish them.

In terms of the procurement of services, if we look at the service delivery model in Mayo, and I know it is the case in my constituency and in many other parts of the country, I have no doubt that many of the services are already contracted out to private service operators who run the local social welfare offices. I am sure the Senator is not saying that they do not do as good a job in Mayo as they do in Cork. That is also a service that is contracted out.