Written answers

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Employment Support Services

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the EU directive or regulation on public procurement that requires the dismantling of the current local employment services system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48670/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first phase of a two-phase procurement of new employment services. This procurement process follows extensive consultations by my Department with the existing service providers over the last number of years.

The Phase two procurement, to commence shortly, will see the Regional Employment Service model rolled out across the State. It will take on board the learnings of the first phase. This is a significant expansion of employment services and will result in State-wide coverage of employment services for those furthest from the labour market for the first time.

I have previously made clear that legal advice from the Attorney General's Office obliges my Department to procure its employment services in an open and competitive manner in respect of EU and national procurement rules. The relevant EU directive is Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement.

In addition, the existing LES contracts are no longer consistent with current best practices. Good governance therefore requires that my Department delivers a new model of employment services which entails a move to multi-annual contracts with enhanced key performance indicators and a funding model that will allow more autonomy on the best means of delivering enhanced employment services to members of the public.

The relevant legislation does not require the "dismantling" of employment services as the Deputy suggests, but it does require that we competitively procure these services. As I have stated previously, existing service providers, with their strong track record and demonstrable capacity for delivering high-quality employment services, will be in a good position to submit strong competitive tenders for the Regional Employment Service.

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