Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2016
38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding the evaluation of JobBridge, promised in September 2016, his plans for replacing JobBridge with more targeted schemes aimed at specific groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28734/16]
View answer44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to replace the JobBridge scheme; the procedures in place to ensure the mistakes made with respect to the JobBridge scheme will not be repeated and that participants are not forced into unsuitable and inappropriate employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28745/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 44 together.
Since its introduction in 2011, JobBridge has encouraged over 19,000 mainly small employers to provide work experience opportunities to over 48,000 jobseekers. Participation is entirely voluntary; there is no obligation on jobseekers to look for, or take up a JobBridge internship and jobseeker payments are not conditional on participation in JobBridge.
An independent evaluation of the scheme published in 2013 found that over 60% of participants progressed into paid employment within a short period of completing their internship. This suggests that JobBridge has been instrumental in helping about 30,000 jobseekers to secure employment.
The scheme was introduced in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy, particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. I have already announced that I plan to replace JobBridge in response to criticisms of the scheme and the much improved economic and labour market conditions.
It is important that the design of any new scheme be informed by the best available evidence. That is why I intend to wait for the results of the second large-scale evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon and London Economics before finalising the design of any replacement scheme.
I also asked the Labour Market Council for its views. The Labour Market Council includes representatives from the INOU, ICTU and IBEC.
Indecon is currently finalising its report on JobBridge. The Labour Market Council has met with Indecon on a number of occasions and will also submit its observations and proposals.
I expect to receive the final version of the Indecon report within the next two weeks and will publish the report, together with the Labour Market Council observations and my own proposals very shortly thereafter.
