Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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27. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobseekers and local development groups find the Jobs Ireland website cumbersome and difficult to navigate; if his Department will review the site to simplify procedures for job applicants and job providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28742/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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JobsIreland.ieis a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. Over 5,000 job vacancies are currently advertised on the site.

Jobs Ireland was first developed 20 years ago and was showing its age in comparison to job sites operated by other public employment services in recent years. For example, although it enabled jobseekers to search for job opportunities based on job type and location, it wasn’t possible for employers to search for suitable jobseekers on the site – they had to rely on candidates finding and applying for a job from among the many thousands hosted on the system.

Accordingly, the Department issued a tender last year for the development and implementation of a new Jobs Ireland service that would enable both employers and jobseekers to search for each other using competencies and skillsets as well as the traditional job-type classifications. As part of the new service, candidate profiles will be automatically matched to job specifications posted by employers with both candidate and the employer notified via email and/or SMS when a suitable match is found. Candidates can also use the site to apply for the jobs advertised. The system will also integrate with the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo service and will include other new features such as allowing jobseekers to post CVs and video profiles if they wish.

Following the procurement process, the contract was awarded to a firm that is now building and delivering the new service from a base in Cork. The service is being implemented on a phased basis which means, unfortunately, that there is some service disruption while work is ongoing. In addition the first phase implementation has not performed to specification. The Department is working with the supplier to address the service issues and add new functionality over the coming weeks.

Employers or any person experiencing difficulties with the website can contact the Department’s National Contact Centre on 1890 800 024 for assistance. Additional resources have been assigned to the unit to expedite the resolution of queries.