Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the national internship scheme to enable candidates who were enrolled on a FÁS course in the previous three months to be eligible for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24928/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order for an individual to be eligible to participate in JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme an individual must be:

- currently in receipt of a live claim (Jobseeker's Allowance/Jobseeker's Benefit/Signing for Credits) on the Live Register;

- have been in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance or signing for Social Insurance credits for a total of 78 days or more in the last 6 months.

Having reviewed the participant eligibility requirements for JobBridge, the Steering Group of the National Internship Scheme has decided that time spent on Back to Education Allowance, VTOS, FÁS/Fáilte Ireland Training courses, Youthreach, FIT, Community Employment Schemes, TUS, the Rural Social Scheme, Back to Work Scheme, FÁS Job Initiative or Job Assist may count towards the 78-day qualifying period. This revised criterion will come into effect from Monday, 26 September 2011. However, individuals must still have signed back on to the Live Register and be in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance or Jobseeker credits immediately before commencing on JobBridge.