Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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130. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the JobBridge scheme to the not-for-profit sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26032/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was launched on 1st July 2011. The Scheme has made very significant progress. As at 24th May 2013, 17,609 internships have commenced. There are currently 6,104 jobseekers undertaking internship opportunities. In addition, there are 2,218 internship opportunities available across a wide number of occupational sectors and geographic areas being hosted on the website. All these opportunities are advertised on the JobBridge website

The Scheme is open to companies in the private, public and community and voluntary (not for profit) sectors. There has been significant take-up from the community and voluntary (not for profit) sectors with 1,656 placements in these sectors since the Scheme commenced in July 2011. I wish to advise that over 9% of all JobBridge placements to-date have been in the Community and Voluntary sectors.