Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Gradlink programme in view of the fact that the national internship scheme, JobBridge, is not geared to graduates and in most cases they are not eligible to avail of the new scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25637/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Gradlink programme was a programme operated by IBEC, which aimed to offer graduates work experience, while they retained their social welfare entitlements. I understand that given the similar aims of JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, IBEC decided to close the Gradlink programme.

However, in advance of the launch of JobBridge, IBEC participated in a Stakeholders Group which advised my Department on the design of the JobBridge scheme. On foot of their experience with Gradlink, IBEC was able to provide an important and valuable input into this process.

In addition, individuals participating in Gradlink were facilitated to transfer their work placement into an internship under the JobBridge scheme provided that both they and their host organisation met the eligibility criteria of JobBridge.

JobBridge is available to all individuals, on the Live Register who have been signing on for at least 3 out of the last 6 months, including graduates. It should also be noted that the JobBridge eligibility criteria is the same as that used for participants on Gradlink who wished to retain their social welfare entitlements.

Very recent graduates who may not currently meet the eligibility criteria of JobBridge should, if they wish to qualify for the scheme, sign on to the Live Register.