Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

282. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the JobsIreland website is the only online vacancy and job matching service available to local employment services and Intreo, and the only method of advertising for vacancies in employment programmes, such as community employment schemes, permitted by his Department (details supplied). [6766/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Jobsireland.ieis a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. At 20 years old, the original site was showing its age. 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 for the development and implementation of a new 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 are automatically matched to job specifications posted by employers. Candidates can use the site to apply for the jobs advertised. The system will also integrate with the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo service.

Following the procurement process, the contract was awarded to a firm that is now building and delivering the new service. The new service was introduced on a phased basis on 28th July 2016. Since then employers have access to a wide variety of features including the creation and advertising of vacancies, and the ability to search for candidates who meet the specified requirements. Anybody who logs onto the site can view the vacancies and can apply for them online once they register. There are currently over 3,200 vacancies advertised on the site.

As the service is being implemented on phased basis, this unfortunately results in some service disruption while work is ongoing. Every effort is made to minimise the impact on users. There have also been some teething problems with the first phase implementation, particularly in relation to performance, but these have largely been resolved. My Department continues to work with the supplier to resolve all outstanding issues and add additional functionality on an agreed phased basis.

I am aware of complaints from sponsors about the filling of CE vacancies, but am assured by my officials that there is no problem posting vacancies on JobsIreland. The process of posting vacancies is relatively straightforward and a tailored video is available online to assist sponsors. There are currently over 1,200 CE vacancies advertised on the site. These are visible to anyone who logs onto the site and users can narrow the search by location.

CE vacancies cannot be applied for online as they are only available to jobseekers who meet the eligibility criteria. Enhancements are planned to clearly denote this up front on the advertisement. Referrals are made by case officers. The referral process will be greatly facilitated following the planned integration of JobsIreland with my Department’s Activation Case Management System.

My Department apologises to users for any inconvenience caused pending full implementation of the new Jobsireland service. It will ultimately to give them a much better service than the original website. Anyone experiencing difficulties with the website can contact the National Contact Centre on 1890 800 024 or email for assistance.

It is reasonable to assume that the difficulties in filling CE vacancies are also related to the significant drop in the Live Register arising from the much improved labour market. Any sponsor who has any recruitment concerns should contact the nearest Intreo Centre which will be happy to help.