Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
255. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection the schools and educational institutions in which JobBridge interns have been taken on and in which they are currently employed since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52617/13]
View answer264. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to JobBridge, if the employer is obliged to offer the intern a position after the six or nine months; if the employer does not offer the intern a position, if they are allowed to advertise the same job seeking another intern for the same position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52764/13]
View answer273. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on JobBridge who are receiving the lower jobseeker's allowance rates of €100 and €144, respectively. [52936/13]
View answer274. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff assigned to administer and monitor the JobBridge scheme; if these same staff have responsibilities relating to other schemes also; if so, the extent of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52937/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 264, 273 and 274 together.
The JobBridge scheme was launched on 1 July 2011. As at end November 2013, a total of 486 schools, including both primary and secondary, had participated in the scheme.
Host organisations participate in the scheme on a voluntary basis and receive no payment or other benefit from the State in respect of their participation in the scheme. I believe that in these circumstances the organisations concerned have a legitimate expectation that their participation on the scheme will remain confidential, and accordingly do not propose as a matter of course, to publish names of any host organisations. JobBridge is a voluntary scheme. Host organisations are not obliged to offer an intern employment at the end of their internship. However, a six-month cooling-off period applies where the host organisation cannot advertise for another intern for the same area of activity. This is to prevent potential displacement.
As at end of November, 2013, there were over 6,500 jobseekers participating on the scheme. Of which, there were 393 participants on the €100 jobseekers rate and 739 participants on the €144 jobseekers rate. An additional €50 weekly top-up payment is made to all participants.
JobBridge is administered and monitored by the Department’s regional offices comprising over 2000 staff. These are supported by a central JobBridge team comprising 6 staff and the National Contact Centre comprising 18 staff. It is worth highlighting that over 4,000 on-site monitoring visits have been conducted by Departmental officers to ensure on-going compliance with scheme criteria.
