Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the JobPath tender process. [10345/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobPath is the Government’s new programme of labour market activation aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.

On 1 July 2013, the Department published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in which it notified the market that it was considering the potential of contracting private/third party providers of employment services. A consultation process was initiated whereby the Department held two information sessions in late July 2013 at which it outlined its thinking in relation to JobPath and invited responses. On the 12^th of December 2013, the Department published a contract notice inviting tenders for the provision of JobPath services. The closing date for receipt of JobPath tenders is the 28^th of February 2014. Taking account of the time required for the tender evaluation process, it is expected that contracts will be awarded in summer 2014. Subject to the detail of any proposals received through the tender process it is expected that successful tenderers will require about 6 months to set up operations following contract award. On this basis JobPath should commence operations towards the end of this year.