I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 86, inclusive, 89, and 93 to 98, inclusive, together.
Table 1 contains details of the breakdown of JobBridge host organisations by number of interns.
Table 2 contains details of the breakdown of JobBridge interns by age.
Table 3 contains details of the breakdown of JobBridge interns by Government Department and Agency.
Since the commencement of JobBridge in July 2011, 805 interns have been placed with the 5 host organisations with the highest number of interns, of whom 317 are currently on placement. 3 of those host organisations are in the public sector, 1 in the private sector and 1 in the community and voluntary sector.
At present, a total of 43 host organisations are excluded indefinitely from participation, a number of others are excluded for shorter periods of time. The reasons for exclusion from participation in the scheme vary and include issues such as poor quality internships, that there is evidence of employment displacement, that the internship as operated did not reflect that which was advertised and that Standard Agreement was not completed as required.
Following the announcement of the Youth Developmental Internship, when the Tánaiste invited expressions of interest from potential host organisations, the Department has undertaken a number of actions to develop and promote interest in the scheme. In addition to contacting a range of potential host organisations the Department has also contacted the Education and Training Board Ireland (ETBI) to develop a one week work preparation course. It is envisaged that the first intake of participants will be in March/April 2015.
The Department, in the immediate future, will provide for quantitative evaluation of a number of programmes through econometric analysis of post-programme outcomes for participants and for control groups of non-participants. The evaluation approach will be based on learning from a “pathfinder” evaluation of the Back to Education Allowance currently close to finalisation by ESRI, exploiting data from a longitudinal jobseekers’ database developed by the Department. This project is establishing the extent to which the data, and the available evaluation techniques, are able to produce insights sufficient to support policy choices and the assessment of the costs and benefits of alternative approaches. Building on the outcome of the pathfinder project, it is intended to launch structured, econometric, evaluation(s) of a number of further programmes, including JobBridge, in 2015.
Participation in JobBridge is voluntary therefore prospective interns are free to apply for internships which are of interest to them. As such PEX is not a determining factor for participation and the data regarding PEX as requested by the question is not routinely recorded as part of the JobBridge process.
The Department receives employer supplied progression data at the end of each internship which outlines the reason for the completion of the internship. This information will form part of the econometric evaluation examining progression rates for a number of activation programmes as outlined above.
In general the cooling off period applies to all host organisations as per the scheme guidelines. In cases where the cooling off period is waived this is done on a case by case basis, and as such statistics are not maintained.
From July, 2011, some 65,686 internship positions have been advertised by host organisations, of which 29,387 internship have not been filled.
Table 1: Breakdown of JobBridge Host Organisations by number of interns (As at 8 January, 2015)
|
Number of Interns
|
Number of Host Organisations
|
|
1-4
|
14,703
|
|
5-9
|
764
|
|
10-20
|
239
|
|
21-50
|
98
|
|
51-100
|
31
|
|
Over 100
|
8
|
|
Total
|
15,843
|
Table 2: Breakdown of JobBridge Interns by Government Department/Agency (As at 8 January, 2015)
|
Host Organisation
|
Total Interns
|
|
D/Agriculture Food and Marine
|
16
|
|
D/Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
|
9
|
|
D/Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
|
43
|
|
D/Defence
|
4
|
|
D/Education and Skills
|
10
|
|
D/Environment, Community and Local Government
|
15
|
|
D/Finance
|
4
|
|
D/Health
|
14
|
|
D/Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
|
10
|
|
D/Justice and Equality
|
95
|
|
D/Public Expenditure and Reform
|
30
|
|
D/Social Protection
|
9
|
|
D/Taoiseach
|
8
|
|
D/ Transport, Tourism and Sport
|
8
|
|
Houses of the Oireachtas
|
8
|
|
Office of the Attorney General
|
5
|
|
Chief State Solicitor’s Office
|
5
|
|
Comptroller and Auditor General’s Office
|
2
|
|
Ombudsman’s Office
|
3
|
|
Pensions Ombudsman’s Office
|
5
|
|
Office of the Secretary General to the President
|
1
|
|
Revenue Commissioners
|
19
|
|
Valuation Office
|
3
|
|
Teagasc
|
160
|
|
TOTAL
|
486
|
Table 3: Breakdown of JobBridge Interns by Age (As at 8 January, 2015)
|
Age Range
|
Total Interns since Scheme Commenced
|
|
Under 25
|
10,125
|
|
25-34 years
|
15,614
|
|
35-44 years
|
6,408
|
|
45-54 years
|
3,312
|
|
Over 55 years
|
975
|
|
Total
|
36,434
|
