Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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25. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the companies that have won the tenders for the provision of local employment services to date in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14867/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently progressing a significant expansion in the provision of employment services.  To date, only contracts for phase one of the Intreo Partners - Local Area Employment Service (LAES) have been awarded.  This phase saw the procurement of LAES for four lots across seven counties, in the Midlands and North-West.  These services will focus on clients farthest from the labour market and those unemployed for longer than 24 months in particular. 

In Lot 1 (Donegal), Donegal Local Development CLG was awarded the contract for Intreo Partners - LAES.  In Lot 2 (Sligo and Leitrim), Co. Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG was successful.  In Lot 3, (Laois and Offaly) Turas Nua was successful, while Seetec was successful in Lot 4 (Longford and Westmeath).

I am encouraged that non-profit Tenderers were successful in two of the three lots they tendered for in areas where they had not provided employment services of a similar scale. 

In phase two, I would encourage all existing service providers to submit a bid for one of the seventeen lots being procured.  The emphasis in the request for tender is on demonstrating the ability to deliver quality services to those farthest from the labour market with a specific focus on delivering social value.