Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress made in developing the pathways to work plan; if a decision has been made on the use of private contractors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28092/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As set out in the NEES project plan and the Pathways to Work policy documents published by the Department, the development and implementation of the Pathways to Work service model entails a multi-annual programme of work to the end of 2014. This programme requires the amalgamation and integration of three separate organisations and the design and implementation of new work processes and supporting computer and administrative systems. To date all of the major milestones in the project plan – including the transfer of FÁS community and employment services and the Community Welfare Service - have been completed on schedule. The possible involvement of third party contractors is currently being considered by the Department, however, no decision has yet been made on the matter. As part of this process the Department has examined and reviewed experience in other countries and has consulted with a number of interested parties and experts including representatives from the UK's Department of Work and Pensions, representatives from international employment service providers, representatives of Irish service providers and a leading international academic who has a particular expertise in the contracting models used by state agencies to engage third party providers of employment services.

It is to be noted that the use of external contractors to complement the Department's own resources is not unusual. For example, the Department already engages 24 Local Employment Service (LES) providers to provide services and funds these activities to the value of over €19m (2012). There are currently c 300 full time equivalent staff engaged by LES providers in the provision of these employment services. The Department also has similar external contract arrangements in place for the provision of client services in over 60 locations around the country. These branch offices complement the Department's own network of public offices.