Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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641. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that redundancy is paid to those who are being laid-off in relation to reforms to the local employment service; if she will report on the contact her Department has had with other Departments in relation to reform of the local employment service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7069/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is procuring a new Intreo Partners 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 which were without a Local Employment Service.  Contracts were signed last December and these services are now operating.

Phase two of the process has now commenced, with the publication in December of a request for tender for seventeen lots covering 19 counties. 

My Department consulted widely, with stakeholders, both internal and external, in the development of new employment services.

In relation to the second phase of procurement of Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services, existing contract holders are strongly encouraged to collaborate with other similar organisations to submit joint tenders. Should the possibility of redundancies arise, the primary responsibility in this area rests with the employer. Should any affected employer require the services of my Department in respect of redundancy payments these services will be available. However, I would encourage existing providers to work together to submit high quality bids under the next phase of procurement for the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service.