Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of tenders received in respect of the market activation fund; when a decision will be made on those tenders; the criteria that will be used in assessing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16457/10]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the tender process for the activation programmes will be decided; when these programmes will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17033/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 127 together.

On 12th March last my Department published a Request for Tender for the provision of training and education programmes for the unemployed to be supported by the Labour Market Activation Fund. Some 350 tenders were received by the deadline of close of business on Thursday 8th April. An Evaluation Committee established by the Department is currently assessing the tenders, and, given the significant volume of work involved, is expected to conclude its work by the end of this month.

The Evaluation Committee will make recommendations to my Department on contract awards based on assessment of the tenders having regard to the criteria set out in the Request for Tender. These criteria are: Assessment of Needs; Management, Capacity and Resources; Programme Methodology and Tuition Standards; Participant Progression; Innovation; and Programme Costs. It is intended that the process of awarding contracts to successful providers will begin in May. A preliminary review of the tenders has shown wide-ranging interest in the Fund with proposals being submitted by organisations in the private and public sectors and from voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, covering most regions in the country. This level of interest is very encouraging.