Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
132. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of 18 to 24 year olds currently active on the JobBridge scheme; the impact an increase of €50 a week would have on her Department's budget and if there is any plan to rationalise JobBridge payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15871/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. It is targeted at individuals who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments (Jobseeker's Allowance/Jobseeker's Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days).
15,767 internships have commenced as at 21st March 2013 with 5,919 participants on an internship and 2,427 internship opportunities advertised on www.jobbridge.ie as of that date. 4,481 of the internships that have commenced to date have been with jobseekers under the age of 25. Of the 5,919 participants currently on the Scheme, 1,626 of these are under the age of 25.
In relation to scheme costs, the additional cost element relates to the payment of the social welfare top-up payment of €50 per week to individuals while they are on their internship. If this were to be increased by a further €50 a week, this would represent an increase of approximately €11.7 million on the Department’s budget for this year. This figure is based on the commencement date of this increase being the 1st April 2013 and for the remaining 39 weeks of the year by an estimated 6,000 participating interns in line with the calculation below:
6,000 (participants) x €50 (extra per week) x 39 (weeks) = €11.7 Million.
