Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to have private sector companies find jobs for the long term unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55014/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On 12 December 2013, the Department published a contract notice inviting tenders for the provision of employment services. This new programme, which is called “JobPath”, is aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed. JobPath will be delivered by private/third party providers of employment services under contract to the Department. JobPath will augment and complement the Department’s existing employment service capacity as well as that of the Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Clubs, which already operate under contract to the Department. The closing date for receipt of JobPath tenders is 28 February 2014. Taking account of the time required for the tender evaluation process and the service establishment phase it is expected that JobPath will become operational towards the end of 2014.