John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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572. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the contract for Turas Nua is to be reviewed; her plans for the future of the JobPath programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9840/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Turas Nua is one of two companies under the JobPath contract to provide, as part of the State's Public Employment Service, employment assistance and advice to the long-term unemployed in order to assist them secure full-time paid employment.

On 22 October 2020, I announced the extension of referrals to the JobPath service for a further twelve months until the end of 2021. At that time I also announced similar commitments to the Local Employment Services, Job Clubs and EmployAbility to ensure their services 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 Covid-19. In light of these circumstances, it was deemed prudent to not only retain, but to expand, the existing capacity of our public employment services.

Following a review of the public employment services by external consultants on behalf of my Department, new models of employment services are currently under development. These new models will incorporate the learnings from the analysis of existing services as well as best international practice.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.