John Brady
Question:315. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated saving in 2017 and a full year from closing the JobBridge scheme to new applicants. [14674/16]
View answerWednesday, 8 June 2016
Questions (315)
Written answers
JobBridge was launched in 2011 at a time of massive economic uncertainty and widespread unemployment. Companies were simply not hiring because they couldn’t afford to recruit, and in many cases insisted on a minimum level of experience. But large numbers of new jobseekers and people who lost their jobs in the recession couldn’t get the relevant workplace experience they needed to get a first or a new job.
That crisis is now over, the economy is growing and employers are hiring again. The labour market has changed and new graduates and other jobseekers are once again finding work. These changed circumstances mean that it is now timely to consider whether or not a state sponsored internship/work experience scheme is still required and if so what form such an internship/work experience scheme should take. While I acknowledge that JobBridge has been a very successful scheme and served a very useful purpose during the period of recession I am mindful of the criticisms that have been made of the scheme and I intend to replace it later this year with a scheme that is better suited to the changed economic circumstances.
JobBridge is currently the subject on an external, independent evaluation and I will use the outcome of this evaluation, due to be produced in September this year, as the basis for determining what changes should be made to improve outcomes for Jobseekers and value for money for the State.
Any costs related to the replacement of the JobBridge scheme will be dependent on the nature of the scheme that is implemented in its place. Such costs are not known at this time therefore no projected savings can be calculated.