Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The objective of JobBridge, the national internship scheme, is to assist individuals bridge the gap between unemployment and the world of work. It provides those seeking employment with an opportunity to undertake a six or nine month internship in a host organisation. Participation in the scheme will assist in breaking the cycle, whereby unemployed persons are unable to obtain a job without experience. On completion of an internship, participants will have improved their prospects of securing employment

The JobBridge scheme was launched on 29 June 2011. In excess of 5,200 jobseekers have commenced internships. There are 2,130 opportunities available across a wide number of sectors. All of these opportunities are advertised on the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie.

In the current labour market environment the JobBridge scheme provides individuals with a unique opportunity to secure work experience in a new field. The scheme enables people to break the cycle, whereby unemployed persons are unable to secure a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers whose existing skills are not appropriate to the jobs that will emerge in post-recession Ireland. Eligibility to access the scheme is based on the overall objective of labour market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the live register. It is important that as employment opportunities become available they are taken up by those on the register.

Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of labour market policy will be to keep those on the live register close to the labour market and prevent their drift into long-term unemployment. This will ensure live register members availing of activation measures, including the national internship scheme, will, while retaining social welfare unemployment payments and a top-up allowance of €50, receive an opportunity to engage in the workplace to gain work experience and thus be in a position to avail of employment opportunities as the economy improves. For these reasons, eligibility for the scheme is targeted at those on the live register and in receipt of jobseeker payments or signing for credits for at least 78 days of the last six months. In so designing the scheme the policy objective is to prioritise scarce resources for those on the live register to increase their chances of leaving it and ensure a reduction in Exchequer costs overtime.

The scheme is open to host organisations to provide internship opportunities for qualified architects. To date, there are in excess of 20 architect internship posts advertised on the JobBridge website. The Department is reviewing the operation of the JobBridge scheme and its possible extension, including broadening its eligibility criteria. The issue raised by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the review.

See this speech in context