Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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118. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the awarding of the JobPath contract to a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39864/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobPath is the Government’s new labour market activation service aimed specifically at the long-term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market, with the primary objective of assisting such persons to gain sustained employment. JobPath will augment and complement both the Department’s own employment services as well as the services contracted under existing arrangements with private registered companies that deliver the Local Employment Service (LES) and operate Job Clubs. JobPath will not replace any existing service provision, either that provided directly by staff within the Department or that provided under existing contract arrangements. In addition JobPath does not involve the outsourcing of any existing activities undertaken by staff of the Department.

Following the completion of a public procurement process, conducted in accordance with EU and national procurement rules, two preferred tenderers were selected. The two preferred tenderers are Turas Nua Ltd. and Seetec Business Technology Centre Ltd.

Turas Nua is a new business and is a joint venture between FRS Recruitment (a co-operative recruitment company based in Roscrea) and Working Links (a UK-based well-established provider of employment services to long-term unemployed people). Turas Nua Limited will operate in the southern half of the country including towns and cities such as Cork, Limerick, and Waterford.

Seetec is a private company delivering a wide range of employability and skills programmes across both urban and rural areas of England. Seetec will operate in the northern half of the country including towns and cities such as Dublin, Galway, Sligo and Dundalk.

Turas Nua and Seetec will work with a range of local subcontractors, including local training companies and existing LES and Job Club providers, in the delivery of JobPath.

Between them, the preferred tenderers will provide some 1,000 additional staff in approximately 100 outlets across the country to assist the long-term unemployed in finding suitable employment and training options.

Subject to successful finalisation of contracts, it is anticipated that JobPath will commence in the first half of 2015.