I 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.