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National Internship Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Ceisteanna (683)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

683. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the promised internship scheme to replace JobBridge; the expected commencement date of this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42854/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. A robust external evaluation of the scheme conducted by Indecon Economic Consultants in 2016 found that it is one of the most effective labour market programmes – increasing participants’ employment outcomes by 32%. It also found that while participants rated the scheme positively on 18 out of 20 aspects measured, most were dissatisfied with the level of payment and a sizable minority rated the scheme negatively on some aspects, for example the quality of training offered.

Based on these findings, and taking account of the improvement in labour market conditions, Indecon recommended that JobBridge be discontinued and replaced with a new scheme. A copy of the full evaluation can be found at: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/JobBridge-Evaluation.aspx.

The Labour Market Council welcomed the report and noted the positive employment impact of the scheme. A majority of the Council similarly recommended that JobBridge be replaced.

Having considered the evidence and the suggestions put forward by Indecon and the Labour Market Council, my predecessor as Minister for Social Protection announced his intention to replace JobBridge with a new work experience programme that would address criticisms of the scheme and would be better suited to the much-improved labour market.

JobBridge was closed to new applications from 27 October 2016 to allow for a period of consultation with key stakeholders on design principles for any proposed new work experience programme and to facilitate an orderly wind-down of the current scheme.

The consultation process is completed, and I have considered options on how best to proceed having regard to the overall policy and Budgetary context.

As Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, my focus is to ensure that resources are targeted at good outcomes from an employment perspective and have regard to the very considerable improvement in the labour market in recent years.

In that respect, I want to target resources at people who face particular challenges getting into or re-entering work, such as young people without any experience and older people who have been unemployed for a long time.

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