Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the case of an person (details supplied) in County Donegal who is in receipt of €40 weekly jobseeker's, and who is being offered €50 per week to undertake a national internship scheme position at a premises which is 20km from home; her plans to amend the scheme so that there is a clear financial incentive taking into account distances to work for participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31086/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobBridge - the national internship scheme is a voluntary scheme which provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the live register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. The scheme is limited to individuals who are currently on the Live Register and have been in receipt of jobseekers allowance/benefit or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months.

Individuals participating on the scheme will maintain their existing social welfare entitlements and will also receive a weekly top up payment of €50. The weekly social welfare entitlement plus the top up payment will be paid in a single allowance known as the internship allowance.

It is considered that the €50 top-up payment represents a meaningful incentive to encourage eligible, unemployed individuals to avail themselves of the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and skills that will keep them close to the labour market and / or lead to employment.