Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to modify the social welfare code to enable employers to give a modest stipend to interns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27871/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Individuals participating in the national internship scheme receive an allowance equivalent to their current Social Welfare allowance plus an additional €50 per week for the duration of the internship (internship allowance). Host organisations must not pay top up contributions. Should an intern be in receipt of a stipend from their host organisation it may affect their underlying entitlements. There is nothing to prevent a host organisation reimbursing an intern for expenses incurred as part of the internship. However, expenses should not be provided for normal activities such as travel to and from the intern's base and normal expenditure incurred on a day to day basis.