Existing contracts with employment service partners, including the local employment service and jobs clubs, expire at the end of the year. I want to ask the Tánaiste about the procurement process and the finalisation of the tender design for next year. I have met with my local jobs club team and I know the great work and service Carlow Jobs Club offers and has offered for the past 22 years. The jobs club is protected under the Carlow County Development Partnership. These are essential community services. They are community-rooted, not-for-profit services and nobody can deny they have supported jobseekers, especially in disadvantaged areas. The push from Government to privatise these services is troubling. It is very worrying. The move to trial a new service by public tender has been criticised by SIPTU and the Irish Local Development Network. I would like to know what is being done to support these services. We have to continue these services.

I take on board the points the Deputy raised. To be clear, local employment services are something we very much need. The service has been provided through a number of different providers over the years. As stated by the Deputy, some of them have been operational for as long as 22 years. We have legal advice that we must put these services out to tender. I have put four areas out to tender in respect of which there are no employment services. I am awaiting the results of that process. We will take on board the learnings from that process for the particular areas we have put out for tender. We have been working closely with the different providers in terms of consultation with officials from my Department. They are meeting with SIPTU next week and they will also meet the local employment services. The services are not being privatised. I do not want anybody to think that.

I thank the Minister for that clarification.