I believe that the Deputy is referring to a recent report on Job Clubs prepared by the internal audit unit of the Department. In preparing this report the Department’s internal auditor raised a query in relation to the appropriateness or otherwise of one Job Club hosting a small number of interns in a role of Job Club instructor. It is important to note in this regard that the Department funds the operation of some fifty Job Clubs located around the State. These Job Clubs are operated by 46 separate contractors who are, in the main, Local Development/Partnership Companies (LDCs). The Job Club in question is a community based, not for profit, social enterprise. Department records show that it is one of two Job Clubs which have hosted JobBridge interns.
All Job Club providers are private limited companies and therefore, for the purpose of the JobBridge scheme, are treated like any other employer providing internship opportunities in line with criteria attaching to the scheme. With regard to the appropriateness of JobBridge interns working in Job Clubs the question of the suitability of any individual intern to operate as a Job Club administrator/instructor is a matter to be assessed, on a case by case basis, by Job Club management. I note that in this case the internship posts advertised required applicants to have FETAC level 6 qualifications in delivery of training programmes and that Departmental records show that all of the interns who completed an internship with the Job Club concerned subsequently entered into paid employment. Accordingly the internships appear to have met their purpose in providing a bridge between unemployment and paid employment. Their use by the Job Club in this case appears therefore to have been an appropriate activation intervention and is to be welcomed rather than criticised.
In the past JobBridge has been criticised by some people on the grounds that some of the opportunities offered were so called low level jobs. In this instance the appropriateness of the internships is being questioned on the basis that the roles required ‘higher level’ qualifications. In fact what this case shows is that JobBridge offers a broad range of internships to respond to the needs and aspirations of the complete spectrum of jobseekers, including those targeting very specific sectors but lacking critical real workplace experience in their chosen field.
I am satisfied therefore that no question arises in respect to JobBridge arising out of this case.
To ensure that both the host organisation and intern are abiding by the spirit and the rules of the scheme, the Department undertakes ongoing monitoring of internships. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. The Department has conducted over 9,000 monitoring visits to-date, and 97% of these visits have been of a satisfactory nature.
