Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2016
75. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if primary schools will avail of the JobBridge scheme for the purposes of filling ancillary positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10720/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraJob Bridge is a national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme was introduced to provide a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for a specific cohort of jobseekers on the Live Register. Recognised Schools and Education and Training Boards may participate in the scheme if they wish under Department of Education and Skills Circular 46/2011, however, an internship must not cause an existing member of staff to be displaced from the school or be used to fill a current vacancy in the school. Interns are in addition to any staffing allocation a school/ETB has.
The JobBridge Scheme is administered and funded by the Department of Social Protection. The Department of Social Protection have informed me that in order to protect the JobBridge intern and to ensure the integrity of JobBridge, they have introduced a variety of control measures and criteria. These ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the intern. The Department of Social Protection monitors the scheme to ensure adherence to these conditions.
