Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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84. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons working in Departments and agencies under the JobBridge scheme and other such labour activation measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38304/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The only activation measure that specifically allows placements within Departments is JobBridge, the national internship scheme. At present, there are approximately 24 JobBridge interns based in Departments and agencies. The following table provides the breakdown by Department and agency. Since the scheme started in 2011, a total of 330 interns, including the 24 interns who are currently active, have been hosted in Departments.

The success of JobBridge as a route into paid employment for those who have prolonged period of unemployment has been shown by independent research. This research indicates it provides progression into employment. As the Tánaiste stated earlier, the success of JobBridge is demonstrated by the fact that nearly 34,000 persons have already participated in the scheme and interns and host organisations have overwhelmingly been positive regarding the benefits of the scheme. I believe that it is incumbent on the State, as an employer, to set an example by providing high quality internship opportunities as and when a suitable opportunity arises.

In addition to setting an example to other employers, public sector internships are of direct benefit to jobseekers. Independent research has shown that notwithstanding the public sector recruitment moratorium, JobBridge interns benefit from the work experience and skills gained while on public sector internships and that approximately 41% of these interns have progressed into employment with other employers on completion of their internship in the Departments. The progression rate is comparable with other training and employment schemes and is much higher than the general progression-to-employment rate for the long-term unemployed.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Did the Minister of State say there have been 330 interns in the public sector in total since the scheme's inception?

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Since 2011, there have been 330.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I have stated on many occasions that the internship schemes are simply for the purpose of cynically manipulating the unemployment figures to the benefit of the Government and to provide cheap labour for employers, and I want to ask the Minister of State a number of specific questions. Has the moratorium on public sector employment meant that no jobs could be offered to interns? If so, was the Minister of State confirming the abuse of interns as yellow-pack and free labour? Is it true that the Taoiseach's Department took on interns for responsible jobs, such as international communications, policy analyst and researcher? Did they get jobs? How many were taken on in internship in the Department of Social Protection?

3 o’clock

How many got jobs in the Department on completion of their internships? Has a Department been among the companies or organisations banned from using internships because of abuse or misuse?

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am extremely disappointed in the response of Deputy Higgins.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Deputy Kevin Humphreys is the Minister of State.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The purpose of JobBridge is to give people experience that will allow them to move into employment. All international research shows that if one is more than six months unemployed, it is very difficult to return to the workforce. Departments give good quality work experience that helps people to get experience that will allow them to get employment. Unfortunately, Deputy Joe Higgins appears to want to criticise young people who get such experience. During the past three months I have made it my business to talk to many young men and women who have been involved in internships. They have told me, overwhelmingly, that they have got the experience to go back into employment. That is what JobBridge is doing; it is not about roars, screams and catchphrases. It is about providing experience to young people to allow them to get back into employment. That is something I support.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Nobody believes that the 3,000 Gateway positions with local authorities are for any other purpose than to fill the gaps left in local authority services by the consistent underfunding of local authority services. It is cheap, yellow pack labour.

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, please answer the questions? How many public sector interns got jobs within the public sector as a result of their internships? Did any get positions in the Department of the Taoiseach? How many interns served with the Department of Social Protection, and did any get jobs in the Department as a result? Was any public sector organisation disbarred from taking on interns due to it not using the scheme properly?

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A total of eight interns worked in the Department of Social Protection over two years and some of them have moved on to very prestigious positions due to the experience they received in the Department.

Interns who work in Departments are also covered by the relevant protections that are clearly set out. Internships involve shadowing, training and experience. When Deputy Higgins does not like the answer he receives, he quickly wants to move the goalposts to discussion of the Gateway scheme.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I did not get an answer.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I suggest that the Deputy should table an oral question on the Gateway scheme. I would be very happy to debate the scheme with him in the House.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Humphreys, is getting good at the waffle.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Gateway will prove to be an exceptionally successful scheme in helping people who have been more than two years unemployed to connect back into the workforce. My business, and that of the Government, is to get people back to work. We have been quite successful in doing that recently.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I did not get an answer.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry but I must move on to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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You have a role, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, under the new Standing Orders to require a Minister to answer the question. Was any Department barred? Perhaps no Department has been, but the Minister of State should tell us.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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No.