Departmental Internships

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019

Friday, 6 September 2019

Questions (1744)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1744. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of unpaid internships issued and or granted to persons to work in his Department over the past five years to 28 August 2019; the number of persons that took up unpaid internship roles in that timeframe; if his Department continues to offer unpaid internships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36154/19]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department was established in July 2017. In this timeframe there have been no unpaid internships issued to persons, to work in the Department.

The Department currently has no plans to offer unpaid internships. Public bodies are outside the scope of the current national internship programme administered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.