Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of plans for the establishment of a graduate internship programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45073/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is widely accepted that keeping people close to the labour market is important to improve their future employability. That is why the Government introduced the Work Placement Programme.

This Programme is providing 2,000, 9 month, work experience places to unemployed individuals. Participants on the programme will retain their existing social welfare entitlements. There are two streams under the programme each consisting of 1,000 places. The first stream is specifically for graduates who possess a full award at level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework and is the Government's graduate internship programme. The second stream is for individuals who do not possess a full award at level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework.

There are currently 129 participants on the programme with 92 graduates in placements at present. The work experience that participants receive will provide portable and transferable skills in a range of areas that will increase their employability. It should be acknowledged that there are other graduate internship programmes in existence such as IBEC's Gradlink. My Department are currently exploring whether it would be possible to more closely align this programme with the Work Placement Programme.