Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if additional staffing measures will be put in place at local offices with regard to the roll-out of the pathways to work programme; if these positions will be sourced from within existing personnel or by external recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12769/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Pathways to Work is a new approach to the provision of service to unemployed people, the objective of which is to reduce the level of long term unemployment and in so doing to ensure that the overall level of unemployment will reduce as the economy returns to growth

Following approval by Government of the NEES project plan last June and the transfer of the CWS and the FÁS services in October 2011 and January 2012 respectively, the Department is now developing the new integrated service as set out in Pathways to Work. The new integrated service will be piloted from four office locations in May of this year and extended to a further 10 offices by the end of the year. As the question suggests the roll-out of the new service will be very challenging for my Department and will require the allocation of additional resources to employment services/activation work.

The transfer of approximately 1,700 staff from the CWS and FÁS, the majority of whom have significant experience in working with clients in a case management model has enhanced the capabilities of the Department in this regard. In addition, the Department is also engaged in a programme of systems development and process change that should enable staff from within its own resources to be deployed to meet the requirements of the new business model.

The Department will also work with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service to address any resourcing deficit that arises notwithstanding the reallocation of resources outlined above. The use of external resources, including private sector providers of employment services, will also be considered.