Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons now taking part in the jobBridge programme; the number of participants on the programme who have gone on to obtain full-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40341/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The National Internship Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is confined to individuals who are in receipt of a Live claim (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days).

The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress to-date since it came into operation on the 1^st July 2011. 10,291 internships have commenced to date with 4,803 participants currently on an internship as at 20^th September 2012 and over 2,265 opportunities presently advertised on . Our records indicate that 37% of the 5,488 individuals who have completed their JobBridge internship placement have immediately progressed into employment with either their host organisation or another employer immediately after their internship finished. These progression rates compare favourably with European averages in this area.

However, it is important to note that this does not take into account interns who may have secured employment in the subsequent weeks or months after completing their internship. Further information on outcomes will be ascertained as a result of the independent evaluation of the Scheme which is currently being undertaken by Indecon.