Written answers

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

JobPath Programme

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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555. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to close down JobPath; if a new contract will go out to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44703/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On the 22nd of October, I announced the extension of referrals to the JobPath service for a further twelve months until the end of 2021.  This was announced in conjunction with similar commitments to ensure contracts for the Local Employment Services, Job Clubs and EmployAbility would also be extended into 2021. 

These measures were taken in order to expand the capacity of my Department's public employment service to ensure that we are in a position to support all those who have lost their employment arising from the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.  In light of these circumstances, it was therefore necessary for my Department to not only retain but expand existing capacity of our public employment services .

It was originally envisaged that new services would be procured from 2021.  However, this has been delayed due to the impacts of Covid-19.  Given the volume of people impacted by the pandemic, a premium has been put on having stable, well-established employment services in place in 2021, when a significant number of additional jobseekers are expected to need the support and advice of the public employment service.   

My Department is continuing to examine procurement options for all contracted public employment services and is preparing to issue requests for tenders for contracted employment services during 2021.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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