National Internship Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Questions (56, 93, 95, 102, 169)

John Deasy

Question:

56. Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in each year since its inception in July 2011 in the JobBridge internship programme in each county; the number of these placements that have led to full-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33047/14]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason top-up payments are available for the JobBridge scheme but not the Springboard scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33591/14]

Gerry Adams

Question:

95. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a company is permitted to offer internships under JobBridge when an existing employee of 11 years was put on a three-day week in 2011 and, for the past four months, is working four days a week, and when this employee wants to work a full five days a week but is told by the employer there is not work for five days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33678/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

102. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason special needs assistant positions are being advertised on her Department's website under the JobBridge national internship scheme; if there was prior consultation and an agreement drawn up between her Department and the Department of Education and Skills that SNA posts previously funded by that Department would now be filled under the JobBridge national internship scheme at no cost to the Department of Education and Skills; which persons will undertake to mentor interns as specified under the JobBridge SNA posts; her plan for these persons once they have completed the internship; if they will be required to sign back on the live register and if the posts they previously held and for which they cannot reapply will be re-advertised the following year for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33793/14]

Willie Penrose

Question:

169. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the conditions for persons who wish to participate in internships; if there are conditions and stipulations attached thereto; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32899/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 93, 95, 102 and 169 together.

Individuals wishing to undertake internships under the JobBridge scheme must be in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment i.e. Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, or signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the last 6 months and have a live claim. Eligibility of potential interns is assessed by the Department once the individuals have been selected by the host organisation.

The following tables set out details of the number of internships since 2011 on a County basis. An independent evaluation of JobBridge found that 61% of former interns moved into employment within 5 or more months of finishing their internship.

The Department pays each JobBridge intern a €50 per week top up in addition to their Social Welfare payment to take account of the additional ‘out of pocket’ expenses that may be incurred in undertaking an internship. Springboard is operated by the Higher Education Authority under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills.

Host organisations are not permitted to displace an employee with a JobBridge intern. Host organisations must undertake to provide a high quality real workplace internship experience for an intern for at least 30 hours per week. A robust monitoring system is in place to ensure that all internships under the JobBridge scheme are fully compliant. If the Deputy has specific details of displacement or other abuse of JobBridge to give to the Department, the matter will be fully investigated.

Internship opportunities, including SNAs, are advertised by the host organisation, in this case schools, at their discretion. When advertising internship opportunities host organisations undertake to comply with the stringent criteria that the Department applies for the protection of the intern and the integrity JobBridge scheme. In addition to these requirements, host organisations must also be mindful of the requirements within their own Sector or governing authority. The Department has ongoing liaison with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the operation of JobBridge in the Education Sector.

In addition to the initial vetting of advertisements and the requirement for the host organisation to participate in monthly compliance reporting, the Department has, as outlined, on-going monitoring of internships; this includes the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. The strict requirements for mentoring also apply to internships within the Education Sector.

If an intern does not receive an offer of employment at the end of an internship they are required to notify their local Social Welfare office and sign back onto the Live Register. Interns are not permitted to undertake a second internship with the same host organisation.

Table 1. JobBridge Internships in 2011 by County

County	Finishers
CARLOW	60
CAVAN	38
CLARE	81
CORK	396
DONEGAL	105
DUBLIN	1397
GALWAY	217
KERRY	87
KILDARE	111
KILKENNY	42
LAOIS	37
LEITRIM	16
LIMERICK	177
LONGFORD	32
LOUTH	93
MAYO	73
MEATH	66
MONAGHAN	58
OFFALY	35
ROSCOMMON	24
SLIGO	85
TIPPERARY	120
WATERFORD	125
WESTMEATH	98
WEXFORD	102
WICKLOW	98
Total	3773

Table 2. JobBridge Internships in 2012 by County

County	Finishers
CARLOW	118
CAVAN	122
CLARE	204
CORK	883
DONEGAL	352
DUBLIN	3149
GALWAY	652
KERRY	291
KILDARE	336
KILKENNY	171
LAOIS	151
LEITRIM	44
LIMERICK	483
LONGFORD	73
LOUTH	220
MAYO	218
MEATH	228
MONAGHAN	155
OFFALY	120
ROSCOMMON	69
SLIGO	173
TIPPERARY	308
WATERFORD	341
WESTMEATH	218
WEXFORD	280
WICKLOW	215
Total	9574

Table 3 JobBridge Internships in 2013 by County

County	Finishers	Current	Total
CARLOW	143	2	145
CAVAN	177	4	181
CLARE	250	1	251
CORK	1038	25	1063
DONEGAL	364	7	371
DUBLIN	3672	73	3745
GALWAY	706	15	721
KERRY	335	5	340
KILDARE	382	11	393
KILKENNY	138	9	147
LAOIS	153	4	157
LEITRIM	53	4	57
LIMERICK	602	13	615
LONGFORD	74	2	76
LOUTH	291	1	292
MAYO	324	4	328
MEATH	259	4	263
MONAGHAN	202	7	209
OFFALY	145	7	152
ROSCOMMON	91	0	91
SLIGO	199	9	208
TIPPERARY	341	17	358
WATERFORD	351	6	357
WESTMEATH	261	10	271
WEXFORD	324	9	333
WICKLOW	197	7	204
Totals	11072	256	11328

Table 4. JobBridge Internships to date in 2014 by County

County	Finishers	Current	Total
CARLOW	20	74	94
CAVAN	33	78	111
CLARE	38	133	171
CORK	179	521	700
DONEGAL	49	160	209
DUBLIN	699	1731	2430
GALWAY	121	374	495
KERRY	49	187	236
KILDARE	64	207	271
KILKENNY	22	97	119
LAOIS	32	82	114
LEITRIM	19	46	65
LIMERICK	104	316	420
LONGFORD	12	48	60
LOUTH	55	179	234
MAYO	65	165	230
MEATH	61	152	213
MONAGHAN	21	92	113
OFFALY	30	90	120
ROSCOMMON	19	53	72
SLIGO	32	130	162
TIPPERARY	53	199	252
WATERFORD	42	203	245
WESTMEATH	50	163	213
WEXFORD	53	183	236
WICKLOW	46	124	170
Totals	1968	5787	7755