Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Department of Social Protection

Employment Support Services

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the roll-out of the Intreo service, since it commenced, by year, to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8250/16]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of Intreo is to provide an integrated, quality, customer-focused service whereby an unemployed jobseeker could avail of both income support and employment services at a single location. It involved the merger of not only the services formerly provided by three distinct agencies (DSP, FÁS and the Community Welfare Service) but also the staff of these agencies. In addition to the rollout of Intreo centres nationally and the transfer of almost 3,000 staff from the HSE and the Employment Services of FAS, my department took the opportunity, in conjunction with the OPW to consolidate its accommodation portfolio from 988 locations in 2012 to 327 current locations.

59 Intreo Centres have been opened to date. This involved the refurbishment/development of some 71 buildings, as some Intreo centres are bi-located. There are currently 2 Intreo centres still under development phase - Navan (bi-located) and Carrigaline (some very minor works required prior to occupancy).

Given the number of locations and multiple schedules, budgets were operated on an annual basis. While the Intreo budget was held by my Department, the OPW was our agent in line with the relevant government circulars. They were tasked with providing the necessary accommodation for Intreo. This Department engaged with the OPW in relation to our business requirements while the OPW provided all budget estimates, and it procured, tendered and contracted the refurbishment of the buildings they identified to meet our needs. The overall spend on Intreo is expected to be in the region of €48 million. Spend has been in line with the annual budget allocation from 2012 to date. In addition, there will be future savings as a result of the significant consolidation of staff and accommodation. The Intreo model won the Outstanding Contribution Award at the recent Civil Service Innovation and Excellence awards, 2015.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.