Mary Lou McDonald
Question:241. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching positions that have been filled using the JobBridge internship scheme. [1407/14]
View answerWednesday, 15 January 2014
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Job Bridge is a national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. Annually, up to 8,500 work experience placements may be provided under the scheme in the private, public, voluntary and community sectors. Recognised schools and Education and Training Boards may participate in the scheme if they wish under Department of Education and Skills Circular 46/2011. A JobBridge internship may not be used to fill a current vacancy in a school, including a vacant teaching post or teaching post of responsibility. A person placed on an internship in a school under the scheme is not paid a salary from public funds. They continue to be paid Job Seekers allowance by the Department of Social Protection. The Department of Social Protection have informed us that there have been a total of 65 internships described as being 'teaching positions' since the commencement of the Scheme in July 2011 of which 27 were during 2013.