Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
45. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans in regard to advancing the JobBridge qualifications to include persons who have professional qualifications but who are not obtaining employment in their field due to lack of experience, and due to their circumstances have to obtain work in a non-professional field to provide for their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17054/15]
View answer46. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to reducing the time limit on qualifying for JobBridge to allow persons with professional qualifications to obtain a JobBridge position, where such a position will allow them to gain experience in their chosen professional field; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17058/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
JobBridge is an activation measure to help jobseekers break the vicious cycle whereby they cannot get a job without experience but cannot get experience without a job. It is open to all jobseekers who have been unemployed, and in receipt of a jobseeker payment or credits, for at least three months over a six month period regardless of their level of education or professional/vocational background.
The three-month eligibility condition to access JobBridge is based on the labour market policy of ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those most likely to remain on the Live Register for an extended period. The scheme was designed to allocate scarce exchequer resources fairly while ensuring that it does not replace or displace the normal operation of the labour market, which is an essential element of Ireland’s economic recovery.
The success of the Scheme is largely due to host organisations offering internships across a wide spectrum of work types suitable for unskilled and inexperienced jobseekers as well as those holding professional qualifications.
There are currently no plans to change the qualifying period for JobBridge.
