Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
60. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has investigated the reason for the high drop-out rate from jobbridge by persons who have not secured employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44552/12]
View answerThe JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress to-date since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 11,201 internships have commenced to date with 5,125 participants currently on an internship as at 15th October 2012 and over 2,200 opportunities presently advertised on www.JobBridge.ie. The take-up has been particularly strong in the SME sector with this sector accounting for 6,481 or 58% of all placements to-date. It is very encouraging that 35% of those participants who have finished their internship in the SME sector have immediately progressed into employment at the end of their internship. There has also been very strong participation in JobBridge from the youth unemployed. 3,156 or 28% of all placements to-date are from aged under 25. In addition, 5,082 or 45% placements have been taken up by those aged between 25-34.
Among the most important reasons indicated by host organisations for participating in JobBridge include that the scheme enables the organisation to evaluate potential future employees and because the scheme contributes to national policy by providing internship opportunities to unemployed. Securing access to additional skills was also seen as a very important reason by organisations.
It is also worth noting that employment progression outcomes from JobBridge compares very favourably with European averages for work placement schemes. An interim report on the evaluation of the scheme has just been completed by Indecon and will be published shortly. This will provide more comprehensive data on the progression outcomes of interns post-internship.
JobBridge, like any active labour market intervention, needs to be carefully evaluated in order to consider the possibilities of positive or negative effects, and whether it is likely to increase employment probabilities for participants. Consequently, the Department is committed to the continuous monitoring and review of the operation of the JobBridge scheme on an on-going basis. The Department has conducted 380 monitoring visits this year and I wish to advise the Deputy that 95% of these visits were of a satisfactory nature.
As at end September, 2,295 or 41% of internships were completed in full, while 3,297 or 59% were completed early. While this may appear to be of initial concern, I am satisfied that the records indicate that a very high proportion of early completers did so to take up a job and 66.3% of early completers have secured paid employment. This is largely as a result of the skills and experience gained while undertaking their internship. In other cases, early completers returned to training or education, returned to job search, took up another placement etc.
