Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
603 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce a scheme to facilitate persons (details supplied) on jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18767/12]
View answerThe National Internship Scheme was launched on 1 July 2011. It provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, at all skills levels. The aim of JobBridge is to assist individuals in breaking the cycle where they are unable to get a job without experience. It provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, relevant knowledge and skills within a working environment. The Scheme is open to organisations in the private, public and community or voluntary sectors.
The Scheme is open to those on the Live Register and in receipt of JobSeeker payments or signing for credits for 78 days in the past 6 months. The current Scheme allocation provides for up to 5,000 internship places at any point in time. There are currently some 4,400 jobseekers undertaking internship placements. This provides a balance of approximately six hundred internship places presently available. This figure continues to change on a weekly basis as JobSeekers commence and complete internship placements.
With respect to Tús — the community work placement initiative, this is designed to provide 5,000 placements at any one time with community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations where quality work placements can be provided. Participation is by random selection by the Department of Social Protection and there is no option for self-selection by way of application. The Deputy will appreciate that Tús is unsuitable in the circumstances outlined.
In relation to the more specific query regarding the participation of Local Voluntary/Sporting Organisations, it is important to note that the GAA have advertised over 150 internship positions to-date across a wide range of geographic areas including a number of coaching and games development roles. The FAI have also advertised a number of internship positions. In addition to this, there has been strong engagement from other local voluntary/sporting organisations with JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme.
