I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 176, 198 and 214 together.
I have set out a table showing the number of persons who participated in JobBridge in the Public Sector by county since the scheme commenced.
Since JobBridge came into operation on 1st July, 2011, 543 individuals have participated on JobBridge in County Westmeath. 150 individuals are currently on internships. 393 individuals have finished their internship. Data from the recent Indecon Evaluation Report indicate that 61% or 240 of the finishers in County Westmeath have progressed into paid employment. In this regard, the progression outcomes into employment from JobBridge are among the very best in Europe.
Persons who are signing for credits but not receiving a social welfare payment are already eligible to participate in JobBridge if they have been signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the last 3 months. While on an internship interns can commence casual employment without affecting their entitlements provided that it is not with the host organisation (i.e. not with the same employer) and it does not interfere with their internship. However, those in receipt of Social Welfare payments and those signing for credits are still subject to the normal rules as regards means testing, availability for work, etc.
As part of their contracts, water meter installation contractors are required to employ a proportion of workers from the live register, graduates and school leavers. In this regard, it is worth highlighting that JobBridge interns are not deemed to be employees as per Section 16 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 and as such would not count towards fulfilment of this contractual requirement.
Table 1. Number Public Sector interns by County
-
|
Finishers
|
Currently on Internship
|
Grand Total
|
CARLOW
|
67
|
39
|
106
|
CAVAN
|
79
|
37
|
116
|
CLARE
|
79
|
20
|
99
|
CORK
|
292
|
98
|
390
|
DONEGAL
|
179
|
91
|
270
|
DUBLIN
|
1,066
|
351
|
1417
|
GALWAY
|
250
|
85
|
335
|
KERRY
|
114
|
53
|
167
|
KILDARE
|
56
|
30
|
86
|
KILKENNY
|
55
|
19
|
74
|
LAOIS
|
41
|
17
|
58
|
LEITRIM
|
15
|
11
|
26
|
LIMERICK
|
136
|
64
|
200
|
LONGFORD
|
27
|
3
|
30
|
LOUTH
|
103
|
25
|
128
|
MAYO
|
90
|
62
|
152
|
MEATH
|
105
|
47
|
152
|
MONAGHAN
|
77
|
47
|
124
|
OFFALY
|
28
|
22
|
50
|
ROSCOMMON
|
22
|
18
|
40
|
SLIGO
|
96
|
55
|
151
|
TIPPERARY
|
184
|
75
|
259
|
WATERFORD
|
142
|
52
|
194
|
WESTMEATH
|
48
|
21
|
69
|
WEXFORD
|
133
|
46
|
179
|
WICKLOW
|
59
|
13
|
72
|
Grand Total
|
3,543
|
1401
|
4944
|