Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the tendering process will begin for the local employment service. [25365/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department intends to issue a Request for Tender (RFT) shortly to expand local employment services into four geographical areas where a Local Employment Service does not currently exist. This initial competitive procurement process, required to comply with EU procurement rules, will have no impact on the contracts of existing providers in other areas.

Separately, the current contracts for all contracted PES provision expire at the end of 2021. My Department is developing RFTs to ensure that with effect from 2022 the Public Employment Service has sufficient capacity and can deliver a sufficient high-quality employment service in order to support all those who need our assistance and help in securing employment.

I trust that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.