Written answers

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Employment Support Services

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits for 12 months or more in tabular form. [2992/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement. Note that these figures refer to all recipients under 25 who are on jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits as of 23rd January 2022.

Recipients on JA who are under 25 Recipients on JB who are under 25 Recipients on JB (credits only) who are under 25
13,083 2,543 42

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseeker's allowance of €203 per week. [2993/22]

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseeker's allowance of €112.70 per week. [2994/22]

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseeker's allowance other than €112.70 and €203 per week. [2995/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422, 423 and 424 together.

As outlined in Budget 2022, the weekly rates for certain primary social welfare payments were increased by €5. Accordingly, details in respect of those receiving the €117.70 and €208 weekly rates are set out below. For the week ending 16th January 2022.

- There were 1,458 young persons under 25 years of age in receipt of the full rate of jobseeker's allowance of €208 per week.

- There were 8,989 young persons under 25 years of age in receipt of the lower rate of jobseeker's allowance of €117.70 per week.

- There were 2,715 young persons under 25 years of age in receipt of a rate of a jobseeker's allowance other than €117.70 or €208 per week.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits by county in tabular form. [2997/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement. Note that these figures refer to all recipients under 25 who are on jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for credits as of 23rd January 2022.

County Recipients on JA who are under 25 Recipients on JB who are under 25 Recipients on JB (credits only) who are under 25
Carlow 239 35 1
Cavan 261 42 1
Clare 339 61 2
Cork 871 240 2
Donegal 619 69 4
Dublin 3,302 820 8
Galway 607 120 4
Kerry 385 93 1
Kildare 539 131 4
Kilkenny 265 45 1
Laois 257 38 0
Leitrim 102 14 1
Limerick 584 90 1
Longford 242 23 0
Louth 556 80 0
Mayo 349 63 1
Meath 458 89 3
Monaghan 140 36 0
Offaly 271 48 0
Roscommon 187 25 0
Sligo 187 33 2
Tipperary 549 52 2
Waterford 520 68 2
Westmeath 321 52 1
Wexford 565 96 1
Wicklow 368 80 0
Total 13,083 2,543 42

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the concerns outlined in correspondence by organisations (details supplied) in relation to the tender for jobs clubs and the potential job losses will be examined and addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3017/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is procuring a new Local Area Employment Service over two distinct phases.

Phase one of the process for procuring new employment services involved seven counties in the Midlands and North West currently without a Local Employment Service. Contracts were signed last month and services are in the process of being mobilised.

Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the publication in December of a request for tender for seventeen lots covering 19 counties. Services for this phase will begin in July 2022.

Throughout the process of preparing this new procurement of employment services, my focus and the focus of my officials has been on ensuring the long-term unemployed throughout the State have access to quality employment services. Given the partial geographical coverage of the existing services and their decades-old contractual basis with associated legal deficiencies, significant reforms were required to make these services available throughout the State, in a manner that is consistent with the Department's legal obligations.

I am well aware of the uncertainty of a competitive procurement process for existing service providers and their staff. However, by its very nature, I cannot at this stage predict outcomes in terms of future service providers and future staffing arrangements. Nonetheless, the new services, with their multi-annual contracts and State-wide coverage, will provide greater certainty for all once established.

The tender process, with its overwhelming emphasis on quality over cost, is well-geared to ensuring that the long-term unemployed are provided a quality service by those best qualified to do so. The existing providers will therefore be well placed to work to submit joint competitive bids under the ongoing procurement process.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.

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