US firm lobbied Dept of Social Protection weeks before issuing of employment services tender

Maximus has been accused of sloppy handling of student loans and unfair debt collection practices in America's social welfare schemes

Just over two weeks after an information seminar on November 9, a representative of Maximus emailed a principal officer in the Department of Social Protection saying that they had "taken the liberty to email directly" because the company was "keen" to become involved in the €168m schemes. File photo

A US firm that has faced criticism for its handling of social welfare schemes in America met with the Department of Social Protection weeks before a tender for local area employment services was announced.

Documents released to the Irish Examiner under Freedom of Information legislation show that a representative of Maximus expressed the company's interest in becoming involved in the State schemes aimed at getting job seekers back to work in early November and was subsequently invited to an information seminar on November 9.