Mr. Niamh O'Donoghue:

It was 61% within so many months of completion of the internship. That is a much more positive experience than can be seen across Europe, so much so that a number of other countries have asked for details of the scheme and are seeking to learn from our experience in that regard. There has been much analysis and reporting in recent years on progression rates under the community employment scheme, for example, and they do not necessarily recognise that the community employment scheme potentially satisfies a number of aspects. It absolutely provides a vehicle for people to receive training and gain experience to allow them to progress, but in other instances, it can satisfy a social or community need that may not necessarily have the aspiration of progression. We must recognise that there are a number of strands in that respect.

We are aware of and try to track or improve analysis of the continuing significant churn on the live register, with significant numbers coming on and off the register every month and year. People move for a variety of reasons, with approximately one third going back to employment, which might be short or long-term. In other cases, people move off the register in order to take up a training place or avail of an educational opportunity. Others move off the register in order to take an opportunity abroad, or they may sign off because they no longer meet conditions of the scheme. We certainly hope to try to improve our ability to report on the issue, but it is complicated. Given the degree of churn, it is very difficult to make absolute assessments of what does or does not work. We must try to do this over time and consider our experience, as well as what is happening internationally.