Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding supplement payments to employers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2659/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobBridge is a National Internship Scheme that provides work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. The aim of the National Internship Scheme is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. The scheme also gives people a real opportunity to gain valuable experience to bridge the gap between study and the beginning of their working lives.

The scheme provides for up to 5,000 work experience placements in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Interns receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement for the period of the internship.

A PRSI exemption scheme applied previously (June '10-Dec '11) for companies who offered employment to their JobBridge interns. PRSI exemption does not apply in 2012.

There are no supplement payments made to employers and there are no plans to make such payments.