Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the decision to change the tendering process to "for profit" as in the case of the recent campaign by community-based employment services (details supplied); and if the concerns of the existing employment services workers have been taken into consideration. [43747/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Local Employments Services contracts have previously been tendered through a closed bid process. My Department has commenced an open tendering process in order to ensure good governance and compliance with procurement rules

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.

In addition, existing LES contracts are no longer consistent with best practices. The new model includes multi-annual contracts with enhanced key performance indicators and a funding model that allows more autonomy in delivering enhanced services and will lead to better outcomes across the State. The model my Department has designed is a model to deliver high quality individualised employment services to those furthest from the labour market. It is simply not accurate to describe it as 'for profit' model.

The first phase of this procurement is at an advanced stage. This will see the establishment of new employment services for seven counties in the Midlands and North-West which do not have an existing local employment service.

Phase two will see the Regional Employment Service model rolled out across the State. It will take on board learnings from phase one. This significant expansion of employment services will result in State-wide coverage of employment services for those furthest from the labour market for the first time.

Phase two, to have been in place by January 2022, has now been postponed for six months to enable potential tenderers make the necessary preparations to submit a competitive bid.

This procurement process follows extensive consultations by my Department with the existing service providers and employee representatives over the last number of years.

I understand and appreciate the concerns of the sector at the changes proposed. However, current service providers with a strong track record and an openness to cooperation will be well-placed to submit high-quality tenders for the new services.

This procurement process is accessible to the community and voluntary sectors, placing significant emphasis on service quality and local networks.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a community employment scheme placement will be extended for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48741/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The aim of the Community Employment ( CE ) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.

In general, placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. Those participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. Participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do not have to work towards a QQI major award. In both instances, a maximum of three consecutive year’s participation is permissible. A person may re-qualify for CE after a 12 month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment).

As time spent on CE for the person concerned is in excess of 3 consecutive years, they were due to finish their CE placement on 5th November 2021.However it has been decided that Community Employment participants who were due to leave their schemes on a phased basis from early November 2021 will now have their contracts extended until Friday, 4^thFebruary, 2022. They may re-qualify for CE after a 12 month break subject to them satisfying the qualifying conditions and they may then go on to complete an overall lifetime limit of six years.

When the person concerned leaves their CE placement the Department's Activation Service can work with them to ensure that the benefits and experience they received during their time on CE is maximised. This process will help identify potential employment opportunities and offer support to them in overcoming any barriers to employment.