Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
336. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on jobBridge for disadvantaged youth referred to in the Irish youth guarantee plan published on 29 January 2014; the way this scheme will operate; when the scheme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18858/14]
View answer342. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any exemptions whereby a person can apply for employment through JobBridge without having the qualifying criteria of being in receipt of a social welfare payment; the reason for not being in receipt of a social welfare payment is due to the fact that the applicant is living at home with their parents, as all jobs they have applied for are either through internships or JobBridge, therefore ruling the applicant out of employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/14]
View answer382. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons undertaking internships as part of the JobBridge programme in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19534/14]
View answer383. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons undertaking internships as part of the work placement programme in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [19535/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 342, 382 and 383 together.
Under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, the Department is developing a variant of the JobBridge scheme for the most disadvantaged young people in the 18-25 age bracket who have been identified as having significant barriers to gaining employment. Under this measure, employers will be asked to make work experience places available for young people aged 18 to 25 with low levels of educational attainment, long periods of unemployment and other barriers to employment. It is proposed that, at any one time, 1,500 young people will have access to this variant of the JobBridge internship.
Suitable candidates who would benefit most from this supported intervention will be selected and referred to the scheme by the Department. Young people who participate in the scheme will receive a €50 top-up to their welfare payment for the duration of their participation.
The participation of clients, once referred, will be non-discretionary and the penalty-rate process will be triggered in respect of any jobseeker who fails to participate in the scheme in accordance with the activation process applicable to them. It is envisaged that this measure will commence during Summer 2014. The existing JobBridge Scheme will remain as is with no change, and will continue to be voluntary.
Eligibility for JobBridge is restricted to those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Single Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance or who are signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the previous 6 months.
13,232 individuals had commenced JobBridge internships by end 2012. A further 11,378 individuals commenced internships in 2013, and a further 3,638 individuals commenced internships in 2014 to 24 April, 2014.
363, 141 and 23 individuals commenced a work placement programme (WPP) in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. As at 28 April 2014, 60 participants were participating on the programme.
