Galway Bay fm newsroom - A number of Galway elected representatives have added their voices to growing opposition to the proposed privatisation of Local Employment Services.
The service assists jobseekers including the long-term unemployed, early school leavers, people with disabilities and those exiting carer's leave.
The matter was discussed at a recent virtual meeting of SIPTU members employed by Local Development Companies and Local Employment Services in Galway and Mayo.
The meeting was advised of a decision by Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys to tender for private companies to design and commission a new model for delivering community level LES.
Speaking at the event, Sinn Fein TD Mairéad Farrell argued the current delivery model works and questioned why it is being changed.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD Eamon Ó Cuiv argued no one on the Oireachtas Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection agrees with the proposal and the issue of tendering out local employment services to private companies has been debated continuously with the Minister.
Manager of the LES office in Galway Samantha O'Toole says the current model works best for jobseekers and she doesn't see any sense in scrapping it...
