Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when it is planned to look for tenders for a national employment service; the remit this service will have; the body providing the services at present that will be provided by the successful tenderer; if this tender will provide totally new services not being provided at present by the State, directly or indirectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36048/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently in the process of procuring employment services for seven counties in the Midlands and North-West with no existing local employment service. This expansion of employment services is the first phase of ensuring State-wide coverage by January 2022.

Parallel to this process is the expiration of the JobPath contracts. Referrals to JobPath service providers will cease at the end of 2021, though some clients will continue to complete their JobPath engagement into 2022 and 2023.

My Department is currently examining options for the replacement of the JobPath service but, as of yet, no final decisions have been taken. However, my position continues to be that this review of employment services will lead to an overall increase in services State-wide and an enhancement of services to be provided to the long-term unemployed and other cohorts.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.