Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Questions (1023)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1023. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20014/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department facilitates annual internships within the ICT and the Business Intelligence units. Internships are offered for a fixed term and interns are paid the first point of the Executive Officer salary scale for the duration of their internship.

The following table outlines the number of internships that were approved in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Year	Number of Internships
2020	14
2021	11
2022	11

The Pensions Authority can facilitate internship requests on a case-by-case basis by students in full or part-time further or higher education courses. The Pensions Authority did not employ any interns in 2021, or to date in 2022.

The Citizens Information Board does not offer internships.

Question No. 1024 answered with Question No. 975.