Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2013
185. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings of the JobBridge steering group to date; if she will provide a breakdown of all costs associated with the steering group including any remuneration or allowances received by non-civil servant members of the group. [41255/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 101, 107 and 108 on 25 September 2013, in which she advised that 63% of all internships are completed early due to the intern securing paid employment, the proportion of these who entered full-time employment and how many entered permanent, fixed-term or zero hour contract posts, respectively; if such data are collated, and, if not, if she will make arrangements to do so in future. [41256/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 101, 107 and 108 of 25 September 2013, the number of interns who finished early and returned to education, went back to receiving jobseeker's allowance or another social welfare payment or emigrated. [41257/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of hours the 21,000 participants on JobBridge have worked to date; the total cost of JobBridge to the State so far; and if she will provide a breakdown of same. [41258/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 188, inclusive, together.
The JobBridge National Steering Committee met 6 times in 2013; 7 times in 2012 and 6 times in 2011. The participation of members of the National Steering Committee is not remunerated. They receive no allowances to cover expenses. The meetings are generally held in the Department of Social Protection’s premises. There has been no venue costs to-date. €25.50 has been spent on catering for meetings over the period 2012-2013.
In relation to the status of employment secured since completing their internship, the Indecon report stated the following:
- 45.2% progressed into full-time, permanent employment
- 9.3% progressed into part-time, permanent employment
- 35.0% progressed into full-time, temporary employment
- 10.5% progressed into part-time, temporary employment
The total number of finishers to-date is 15,686. At the time of completing their internship, a total of 638 individuals went into further education or training, of whom 500 finished early. A total of 233 individuals emigrated, of whom 198 finished early, and a total of 2,563 returned to job search, that is, to receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment, of whom 371 finished early. Of the total number of finishers to-date, the largest category of progression outcome was into paid employment.
JobBridge interns are required to work for between 30 and 40 hours per week. Within those limits, the hours worked by each individual intern are a matter for the host organisation in agreement with the intern. The total cost of the top-up allowances since Scheme inception in July 2011 has been €22.5m.
The Indecon Report found that even using conservative assumptions for deadweight and for social welfare payments, JobBridge achieves a net benefit to the Exchequer provided that those who have secured jobs remain in employment on average for 5.5 months. If participants remain in employment for one year or more, the net benefits increase significantly.
