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Job Initiative

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (512)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

519 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if the number of internships under the jobbridge scheme in the services and hotels and catering categories that have been taken up by interns; the number of services and hotels and catering internships currently on offer; his views on whether this is causing job displacement and loss of employment in these sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17909/12]

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Written answers

JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme came into operation on the 1st July 2011. Currently over 6,100 internships have commenced to date with 4,391 internships in place as at 5th April and over 1,960 opportunities are currently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie. Of the 6,149 internships which have commenced since the 1 July 2011, 2% of the internships are occupations associated with catering sector and hotels. In addition to catering assistants; accommodation assistants; chefs and event co-ordinators roles; these figures also relate to support and administrative functions within the catering sector and hotel sector, including for example clerical, marketing, quality control and human resource roles.

Our records indicate that a significant proportion of individuals who have participated in JobBridge have progressed into employment on completion of their internship placements. This represents very significant progress in a short period of time. Further information on outcomes will be ascertained as a result of the forthcoming formal evaluation of JobBridge, which is due to commence shortly.

This evaluation will assess the design, delivery and impact of the JobBridge Scheme, It will provide details of the nature of the work experience of the participants; a measurement of the relevance of that experience to the labour market and progression into employment. It will also offer an assessment of the potential displacement effect of the Scheme and the satisfaction of participants and of host organisations with their experience. It will also present recommendations on how the Scheme might be improved.

It should also assist the Department in making further policy decisions on the benefit of work placement programmes in the overall context of the Government's activation policy, which is to engage with every unemployed individual to provide them with a pathway to employment and to prevent and reduce long term unemployment.

An intern may contact the JobBridge Team at any stage of their internship whether for advice or as part of the "whistle blowing" feature. Consequently any individual who suspects that an internship may be in breach of the scheme's criteria, including cases of suspected displacement or poor quality, may contact the JobBridge Team. All such claims are fully investigated.

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