Written Answers Nos. 63-81
63. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost incurred in his Department as a result of Oireachtas Members initiating legal challenges in the courts for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53153/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the costs incurred by my Department, and those bodies under my remit, since the formation of this Government.
|
Department |
Oireachtas Member |
Plaintiff |
Cost |
|
Ombudsman |
Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill |
Standards in public Office Commission |
€97,772.70 |
|
Public Expenditure and Reform |
Deputy Joan Collins |
Minister for Finance and Others |
€588.08 |
|
Total |
- |
- |
€98,360.78 |
64. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of EU directives related to his Department that have yet to be transposed into Irish law despite the deadline date having passed; when it is proposed that these directives will be transposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53357/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no EU directives relating to my Department that have yet to be transposed into Irish law with a deadline date having passed.
65. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of foreign direct investment that has taken place in a county (details supplied) over the past five years, broken down by year; the companies that have made such investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53187/13]
View answerDetails of the amount of grants paid in Co. Carlow and Co. Wicklow from 2007 to 2012 are set out in the following tabular statement.
As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. In order to achieve economic regional development, IDA prioritises the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass (i.e. sufficient scale of population, skills, infrastructure, companies, business services etc.) and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways. With improvements in infrastructure and investment in one town in a region it has a positive effect on other towns in the region.
The East Region, which includes Wicklow, has been particularly successful in recent years in terms of attracting inward investment from FDI companies and employing 67,860 people. At present, there are 17 IDA supported companies in Co. Wicklow employing 2,267 people.
IDA Ireland's Strategy for County Carlow within the South East Region is to progress the development of a knowledge economy so that the county, and particularly the county town of Carlow, can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. Carlow has traditionally been a centre of manufacturing with a strong engineering tradition in both the indigenous and overseas sectors. At the end of 2012, there were 7 IDA Ireland supported companies in Co. Carlow employing 576 people.
IDA Ireland has strong relationships with all these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites. Among the companies who announced job creation plans or fresh investment plans in recent years for Co. Carlow were: Merck Sharp & Dohme Biologics (Ireland) Ltd, Unum and Merck & Co Inc. Similarly, for Co. Wicklow were: Nypro and Oriflame.
Work in winning new investments has been continuing steadily in the second half of 2013 and, on the basis of the trends so far, I am confident that the targets set out for IDA Ireland in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, of winning more than 130 new investments, securing €500m in R&D and creating 13,000 jobs in IDA client companies, will be achieved.
Table showing the amount of grants paid in Co. Carlow and Co. Wicklow from 2007 to 2012
|
County |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Carlow |
€553,820 |
€480,305 |
€176,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€9,503,141 |
|
Wicklow |
€629,010 |
€232,593 |
€791,321 |
€513,000 |
€0 |
€48,328 |
66. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken by Industrial Development Authority Ireland to attract investment and additional employment to north Dublin following the reported loss of up to 570 jobs in the coming three years at MSD Swords. [53227/13]
View answerIn the case of the Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) plant in Swords, the company has had to undertake a review of its worldwide manufacturing capabilities to improve it overall operational effectiveness. Following the merger of that company with Schering Plough, the combined operation has excess manufacturing capacity worldwide. Accordingly, as part of an overall rationalisation, the company has, unfortunately decided to close the Swords operation by 2017 and transfer production to other factories in the group, located in countries abroad.
The gradual shutdown of this plant gives a valuable space to seek a new operation for the factory. It is not anticipated that any staff will have to leave before mid-2014 at the earliest and that 130 jobs would be lost in the second half of 2014. The remaining positions would be phased out over the following three years up to the end of 2017. IDA Ireland will work closely with MSD with a view to identifying a buyer for the factory. I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to seek to ensure that this factory can continue as an employer in the area, after the current operation is due to close in 2017.
Regarding wider job creation in Dublin, I am pleased that the IDA continues to attract impressive levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) both in terms of attracting new projects and, also, expansions to existing operations in the capital. In addition, significant Research, Development and Innovation investments have been secured across a range of sectors, including Financial Services, ICT and Pharma and major Data Centre investments are being undertaken in different parts of the county.
In terms of wider national FDI, it is also important to remember that Ireland overall continues to be competitive in attracting new investment. Over 1,000 multinational corporations have chosen Ireland as their strategic European base. Multinationals currently employ 146,000 people directly and many more indirectly. In the wider context, as a Government, we have put in place strategies for job creation that are now starting to bear fruit. The Government will continue to deliver on its commitments in the Action Plan for Jobs. Through the Action Plan for Jobs in both 2012 and in 2013 we have addressed a wide range of competitiveness issues which has helped turn the economy around and provide the base for private sector job growth. We are currently developing an Action Plan for Jobs for 2014 which will build on these achievements. The work of the enterprise agencies will continue to play a huge role in this process.
Recent official data has shown that 58,000 jobs have been created in the country over the last 12 months, which is an impressive achievement, in light of the economic difficulties we have faced. This is the fourth quarter in succession where employment has grown. That CSO data shows that an additional 26,600 jobs have been created in the Dublin area alone in the last 2 years, as the economic recovery takes hold.
67. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the fact that the term "servant" appears in a number of instances in existing companies legislation and in the proposed Bill, if he will provide the Department's definition of "servant"; if he will undertake to incorporate the definition into the Bill, as the absence of same could lead to potential abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53250/13]
View answerCompany law in Ireland is currently spread out over 16 enactments and numerous statutory instruments. The Companies Bill 2012 ("the Bill") is a consolidation of all these provisions in one Bill which aims to streamline, simplify and clarify the law. The Bill is the largest substantive Bill in the history of the State, spread out over 25 Parts, 17 Schedules and comprising some 1,429 sections.
Most of the existing references to "servant" are updated to "employee" in the Companies Bill 2012. For example, Section 285 of the Companies Act 1963 uses the terms "clerk, servant, workman or labourer"; however in the Bill the corresponding Section 622, uses the term "employee" exclusively. This is in line with the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) recommendation to modernise the language of this section. (Second CLRG Report at paragraph 4.19.4). The Department is currently examining a small number of other references to the term servant in the Bill to ensure that they are appropriate in the context of the relevant provision.
68. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce legislative or regulatory measures to make provision for mandatory audit rotation in the instance of public interest entities, including but not exclusively banks and other financial institutions in which the State has a financial interest; his views on whether the introduction of these mandatory measures would be in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53254/13]
View answerAudit proposals adopted by the EU Commission at the end of 2011 contain draft provisions relating to auditor and audit firm rotation in respect of the audit of public interest entities. These audit proposals are currently the subject of Trilogue negotiations between the European Council, the European Commission and the Parliament. The audit provisions arising from this process, including any pertaining to auditor and audit firm rotation of public interest entities, will be implemented in Ireland in the context of the transposition of these audit measures.
69. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will substantiate claims that the economy is producing 3,000 jobs per month by providing a breakdown of the jobs for a sample month by standard occupational classification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53281/13]
View answerAccording to the Quarterly National Household Survey for Quarter 3, 2013, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), approximately 4,800 jobs per month have been created – a total of 58,000 in the 12 months to end of the third quarter of 2013. A monthly breakdown of jobs by standard occupational classification is not available. However, the following table provides statistics by Quarter, on Persons aged over 15 employed by Sector (Source: CSO Database). While these employment figures are very encouraging signs for the economy, we must continue to build on this progress and support further job creation. I am currently preparing the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government and we will continue, through that process, to build on the success of the actions we have taken over the last two years.
Table: Persons aged over 15 employed by Sector
Persons aged 15 years and over in Employment (Thousand) by Sex, NACE Rev2 Economic Sector and Quarter
|
- |
2011Q3 |
2011Q4 |
2012Q1 |
2012Q2 |
2012Q3 |
2012Q4 |
2013Q1 |
2013Q2 |
2013Q3 |
|
Both sexes |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
All NACE economic sectors |
1,845.6 |
1,847.7 |
1,825.0 |
1,836.2 |
1,841.3 |
1,848.9 |
1,845.6 |
1,869.9 |
1,899.3 |
|
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) |
82.4 |
80.3 |
80.5 |
87.1 |
85.6 |
90.0 |
96.2 |
103.4 |
110.6 |
|
Construction (F) |
108.5 |
107.8 |
103.3 |
99.6 |
101.1 |
103.2 |
96.3 |
102.7 |
105.4 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) |
276.5 |
270.5 |
271.3 |
268.2 |
272.7 |
273.4 |
274.1 |
271.5 |
273.3 |
|
Transportation and storage (H) |
96.7 |
92.6 |
90.2 |
90.9 |
90.3 |
89.0 |
88.8 |
86.0 |
88.2 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities (I) |
121.1 |
119.9 |
117.6 |
120.0 |
123.1 |
118.3 |
120.3 |
129.6 |
137.7 |
|
Information and communication (J) |
77.1 |
77.7 |
78.5 |
81.2 |
78.2 |
83.2 |
77.4 |
80.4 |
82.0 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) |
96.6 |
96.2 |
98.0 |
102.6 |
100.4 |
102.2 |
103.9 |
108.0 |
111.3 |
|
Administrative and support service activities (N) |
69.4 |
65.3 |
62.5 |
63.0 |
66.6 |
63.2 |
59.5 |
58.0 |
64.7 |
|
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security (O) |
99.3 |
102.3 |
99.5 |
99.6 |
99.7 |
96.0 |
95.2 |
95.1 |
96.1 |
|
Education (P) |
137.2 |
144.5 |
146.6 |
146.3 |
140.6 |
145.3 |
147.5 |
150.3 |
140.8 |
|
Human health and social work activities (Q) |
243.5 |
242.8 |
239.6 |
244.4 |
245.0 |
245.7 |
247.5 |
244.6 |
243.6 |
|
Industry (B to E) |
238.9 |
244.5 |
236.0 |
231.7 |
231.1 |
237.2 |
238.0 |
238.4 |
242.0 |
|
Industry and Construction (B to F) |
347.4 |
352.4 |
339.3 |
331.3 |
332.1 |
340.4 |
334.3 |
341.1 |
347.3 |
|
Services (G to U) |
1,412.1 |
1,412.3 |
1,403.3 |
1,416.0 |
1,420.8 |
1,415.3 |
1,413.5 |
1,424.2 |
1,439.2 |
|
Financial, insurance and real estate activities (K,L) |
99.1 |
104.1 |
101.0 |
99.3 |
102.3 |
102.8 |
99.7 |
98.9 |
101.5 |
|
Other NACE activities (R to U) |
95.5 |
96.3 |
98.5 |
100.6 |
101.9 |
96.2 |
99.8 |
101.8 |
99.9 |
|
Not stated |
3.8 |
2.7 |
- |
- |
2.8 |
3.2 |
- |
- |
- |
70. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of EU directives related to his Department that have yet to be transposed into Irish law despite the deadline date having passed; when it is proposed that these directives will be transposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53355/13]
View answerMy Department ensures that a high profile is given to ensuring that a good performance on the transposition of Directives is maintained. Within the Department transposition is monitored on a regular basis.
Currently one Directive is overdue since 11th May 2013, Directive 2010/32/EU on implementing the Framework agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and health care sector. We understand that Ireland is one of approximately 8 Member States that have not transposed this Directive. During discussions between my Department and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government on the legal scrutiny and settlement of the draft Regulations to transpose the Directive, a number of additional legal issues were identified which has, of necessity, delayed transposition. These issues are being urgently addressed with a view to completing the process of transposition by the end of 2013. Close contact has been maintained with the European Commission throughout this process to apprise them of progress. A formal notice of Infringement has not been received to date, due to an administrative issue on behalf of the Commission.
A full list of the Directives to be transposed up to 2015 and the current position in respect of their transposition is provided in the following tables, which can also be accessed on my Department's website at www.djei.ie.
DIRECTIVES TO BE TRANSPOSED IN 2013 (Two)
|
Description of Directive |
Deadline for Transposition |
Current position |
|
1. Directive 2010/32/EU implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention of sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU. |
11/05/2013 Section: HSA Liaison |
Overdue During discussions between the Department and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government on the legal scrutiny and settlement of the draft Regulations to transpose the Directive, a number of additional legal issues were identified which has, of necessity, delayed transposition. These issues are being urgently addressed with a view to completing the process of transposition by the end of 2013. |
|
2. Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights. |
13/12/2013 Section: Competition & Consumer |
Regulations are due to be signed by the Minister during week commencing 9th December, 2013. |
DIRECTIVES TO BE TRANSPOSED IN 2014 (Three)
|
Description of Directive |
Deadline for Transposition |
Current position |
|
3.Directive 2012/17/EU on the interconnection of central, commercial and companies registers |
14/07/2014 Section: Company Law |
Draft regulations are due to be submitted to the OPC during week commencing 9th December, 2013. |
|
4. Directive 2012/28/EU on certain permitted use of orphan works |
29/10/2014 Section: Intellectual Property Unit |
Preparation for submission to OPC commenced. |
|
5. Directive 2013/10/EUamending the aerosol directive |
19/03/2014 Section: Competition & Consumer |
Currently with the OPC. |
DIRECTIVES TO BE TRANSPOSED IN 2015 (Two)
|
Description of Directive |
Deadline for Transposition |
Current position |
|
6. Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances |
31/05/2015, although one aspect has an earlier date of 14/2/2014 Section: Chemical Regulation Policy Unit |
Drafting of short, technical S.I. has commenced (to transpose Article 30 – deadline for transposition 14 February 2014). A draft was sent to the OPC for legal settlement on 01 November, 2013 and a draftsperson has been assigned. The Department will be meeting the transposition deadline. |
|
7.Directive 2013/34/EUon the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings |
20/07/2015 Section: Company Law |
Drafting has not yet commenced. |
DIRECTIVES TO BE TRANSPOSED IN 2016 (ONE)
|
Description of Directive |
Deadline for Transposition |
Current position |
|
8. Directive 2013/35/EU on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) |
01/07/2016 Section: HSA Liaison |
Drafting has not yet commenced. |
CODIFIED DIRECTIVES as at 10 th December 2013
CODIFIED DIRECTIVES 1 (Four)
CURRENTLY AWAITING TRANSPOSITION
|
Description of Directive |
Unit Responsible |
Current position |
|
1. Directive 2009/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC). |
HSA Liaison |
Drafting of the detailed transposing regulations continues |
|
2. Directive 2009/142/EC of the European Parliament and Council relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels |
Competition & Consumer |
Draft with OPC. |
|
3. Directive 2009/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on non-automatic weighing instruments |
NSAI Liaison & Standards |
Draft is with the OPC. |
|
4. Directive 2000/54/ECon the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work. |
Chemicals Regulation Policy Unit |
Ongoing liaison with OPC re finalisation of regulations. |
RECAST DIRECTIVES (Three)
CURRENTLY AWAITING TRANSPOSITION
|
Description of Directive |
Unit Responsible |
Current position |
|
1. Directive 2009/34/ECrelating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control (Recast) |
NSAI Liaison & Standards |
Draft is with the OPC. There is no deadline for transposition of this Recast Directive. |
|
2. Directive 2006/95/ECof the European Parliament and Council on the Harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to Electrical Equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits |
Competition & Consumer |
Undergoing a recast. |
|
3. Directive 2009/105/ECrelating to simple pressure vessels |
Competition & Consumer |
Undergoing a recast. |
1 Codification brings together previous legislation in a single new act. There are no timelines required for the transposition of codified Directives.
71. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost incurred in his Department as a result of Oireachtas Members initiating legal challenges in the courts for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53656/13]
View answerNo costs have been incurred in my Department as a result of Oireachtas members initiating legal challenges in the Courts for each of the past five years.
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an appeal for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53160/13]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
73. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making the Gateway scheme accessible to those on a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53164/13]
View answerThe purpose of Gateway is to focus on those people who are long-term unemployed. For this reason, eligibility is at present confined to those on the Live Register for 24 months and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by long-term unemployment.
Eligible persons are being identified by the Department of Social Protection by applying the following conditions:
- A person must be unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 24 months, and
- Currently be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, and
- Be fully unemployed.
Persons in receipt of disability payments are not eligible for participation on Gateway. Work placement and training opportunities for people with disabilities are available under community employment in addition to a range of other initiatives supportive of a return to and retention in the work place. I currently have no plans to extend the qualifying criteria beyond that identified above.
74. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a person's jobseeker's allowance appeal (details provided). [53167/13]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19th November 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
75. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to re-evaluate the rent allowance limits in view of the current rental market; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that rents in an area (details supplied) are 4.4% higher in the third quarter of 2013 than they were the previous year, according to a daft.ie rental report; if she will re-examine rental limits in the county on that basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53174/13]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 80,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided over €403 million in 2013.
Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme came into effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits have been determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The rent limits review was completed during the second quarter of this year and used a number of data sources including that of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) which contained details of actual registered rental tenancies. As outlined by the Deputy, the Daft.ie Q3 2013 rental report records a year on year increase of 4.4% in rents in County Wicklow. There is no detailed breakdown of this figure by area within the county or by property type.
There are currently over 2,400 rent supplement recipients in County Wicklow. Analysis shows that there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients in County Wicklow. It must be stressed that the purpose of the rent limit review was to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide rent supplement tenants with access to all housing in all areas. The Department will continue to monitor rent levels throughout the country but at this point has no plans to revise any of the existing rent limits at this time.
Reliance on rent supplement for those persons with long term housing needs is being addressed with the Department's strategic policy direction to return rent supplement to its original purpose, that of a short term income support. In July 2013 the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from the Department of Social Protection to housing authorities. Officials in the Department are working with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, who are leading the project, in developing the necessary legal, policy and operational requirements to give effect to this transfer.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance has ceased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; if same will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53184/13]
View answerThe rent supplement has been reinstated for the client in question. The payment was temporarily suspended due to an issue regarding the client's address. All arrears will issue accordingly at the end of the month.
78. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent supplement may be paid to a person living in a mobile home in a fixed location; her Department's policy on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53185/13]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently over 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.
Social welfare legislation is specific in relation to the type of residence for which a rent supplement may be provided. Statutory Instrument No. 412 of 2007 states that subject to these regulations, a person shall be entitled to a supplement towards the amount of rent payable by him or her in respect of his or her residence. The term "residence" is defined as a "residential premises" meaning "a building or part of a building, used or suitable for use, as a dwelling and any land which the occupier of a building or part of a building used as a dwelling has for his or her own occupation and enjoyment with the said building or part thereof as its garden". It is the Department's view that a mobile home is not a building and as such it is not possible to pay rent supplement in respect of such a structure.
81. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the JobBridge scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53205/13]
View answerJobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was launched on 1st July, 2011 as part of the Government's Jobs Initiative. JobBridge provides work experience placements for those on the Live Register for a 6 or 9 month period to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills.
The Department requires that JobBridge host organisations have at least one full-time employee for the benefit and the protection of interns and to ensure the integrity of the scheme. The Department considers that this requirement is necessary to ensure that the host organisation can offer the intern a high-quality, real-workplace experience. The Department also considers that the support and example of workplace colleagues is a necessary part of the internship experience and that this is critical in enhancing the experience for the intern. The Department is not in a position to make exceptions to this requirement.
If an individual has any queries relating to the operation of the JobBridge Scheme, they may contact the JobBridge team via the Contact Us section of the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie.
