Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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375. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have availed of the jobbridge scheme to date; and the number of persons known to have moved from jobbridge into full-time employment. [2891/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. Some 13,770 internships have commenced to date with 5,548 participants currently on an internship as at 17th January 2013 and over 1,900 internship opportunities presently advertised on www.jobbridge.ie.

The interim results of the independent evaluation of JobBridge conducted by Indecon International Economic Consultants (published on www.welfare.ie on 5th October, 2012) shows that 52.3% of JobBridge finishers progressed into employment with either their host organisation or another employer since finishing their internship. These progression rates compare very favourably with European averages in this area. Further information on outcomes will become available when Indecon completes its evaluation. I expect their report to be finalized in the next few weeks.