Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding grants to employers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2994/12]

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.

There are significant benefits for organisations taking part in the JobBridge scheme including the following:

· Give an unemployed person the opportunity to gain relevant work experience

· Access potential future employees

· Enhance the performance of your organisation by offering an internship to motivated individuals with enthusiasm and a passion for developing their careers

· Bring in fresh talent, fresh ideas and new thinking

· Access newly trained interns with recent skills sets or skilled workers that add real value to your organisation.

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 grants made to employers and there are currently no plans to make such grants available.