Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding implementing a work experience scheme as announced in the supplementary Budget on 7 April 2009; the eligibility for this scheme; the places available; the location of these places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31785/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In last year's Supplementary Budget, the Work Placement Programme was announced. This Programme was launched in May 2009 and it provides up to 9 months work experience for unemployed individuals, including graduates. The Programme is open to all sectors of the economy, including the private and public sectors, as well as the community and voluntary sectors. While the programme is voluntary and unpaid, participants may be able retain their existing social welfare entitlements for the duration of their placement, subject to the rules of the Department of Social Protection.

The following are the criteria for the Work Placement Programme:

Stream 1 (graduate stream)

All unemployed graduates will be eligible to apply to participate in the Work Placement Programme provided they meet the other criteria. Unemployed graduates who are not receiving a social welfare payment will also be eligible to apply.

Graduates must have attained a full award at level 7 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Stream 2 (non-graduates)

This stream will be open to all individuals who do not possess a full award at level 7 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Unemployed individuals who are not receiving a social welfare payment are eligible to apply.

250 places will be ring-fenced for under 34s.

Other Participant Criteria applying to participants irrespective of Stream Individuals in receipt of a Jobseekers Benefit (JB) payment will now be eligible to apply and participate on the Work Placement Programme (WPP). Where a person exhausts their entitlement to JB while participating on a WPP they can apply for a Jobseekers Allowance (JA) payment, which is subject to satisfying a means test. It should be noted that a participant who is not eligible for a Jobseekers Allowance and has exhausted their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit would then not receive a social welfare payment.

Individuals in receipt of other Social welfare allowances/payments will be eligible to participate in the Programme, in accordance with existing arrangements. These include the following:

Disability Allowance,

Blind Pension,

Invalidity Pension,

Illness Benefit or Lone parents allowance.

Individuals in receipt of a disability or illness payment must get written approval from the Department of Social Protection to do rehabilitative work while participating in the Work Placement Programme and to retain their disability payment. This may involve a doctor certifying that the work placement will be rehabilitative.

Individuals in these categories will be directed by FÁS to the Department of Social Protection in the first instance and then once approval has been granted they will be eligible to participate in the programme.

The period for which participants have to be in receipt of a Social welfare payment in order to be eligible has been reduced to 3 months. Periods spent on FÁS training programmes for individuals who were in receipt of Social Welfare payments prior to the commencement of the training will count in relation to the Work Placement Programme's qualifying period.

The placement will be for a maximum nine-month period.

Local FÁS offices will be the first point of contact for those interested in the Programme.

FÁS will refer potential participants to providers. On referral from FÁS, the provider of the work experience may interview potential participants.

The Department of Social Protection will continue to pay social welfare entitlements to participants on the Programme for the duration that their entitlement exists.

Criteria for Providers of Placements:

The Work Placement Programme will be open to all sectors of the economy including:

The private sector,

The public sector,

The community and voluntary sector.

Firms that have had redundancies in the last three months are not eligible to participate. However, where there is no direct displacement of an employee, and the level of redundancies in the last three months were less than 5% of the workforce, these firms will be eligible to participate.

Provider applicants will only be considered if the business is a legal entity.

The Work Placement Programme will be available to most providers irrespective of their number of employees. However, in order to qualify providers must employ at least one employee. The number of places a provider can avail of is dependent on the number of employees they have.

Number of Employees Number of WPP Placements

1-10 employees: 1 Place.

11-20 employees: 2 Places.

21-30 employees: 3 Places.

30 + employees: 10% of their workforce to a maximum of 25 places whichever is the smaller.

The placement will be for a maximum nine-month period.

Prospective providers shall register with FÁS.

On referral from FÁS, the provider of the work experience may interview potential participants.

The placement will not be provided to fill an existing vacancy.

The placement will not be provided to displace an existing employee.

Providers must have Public and Employers' liability insurance and this must cover the participant on the work placement.

Providers must confirm that their company is fully compliant with current workplace health and safety and all other legal requirements.

The following table provides a breakdown of the posts approved, and currently being advertised under the Programme as at 23rd September 2010.