Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
386 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application under the JobBridge programme in respect of a company (details supplied) in County Cork; if there is any means by which the application could be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32417/12]
View answerThe company concerned had an internship placement for a 9 month period from 19th September 2011 to 15th June 2012. The company employs 10 full-time employees which allows them to facilitate one intern at any one time. It is a stipulation of the JobBridge programme that once an internship has surpassed 3 months in duration and the host organisation have reached their quota they cannot, without first hiring a paid employee, avail of another intern in the same broad area of activity until a 6 month cooling-off period has elapsed. This is an important obligatory clause which serves to restrict the possibility of host organisations engaging interns on a rolling basis to offset the need to fill an opening with a salaried employee.
