Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the most up to date figures of acceptance for JobBridge positions on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47518/13]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have applied to her Department for approval to go on the JobBridge scheme; the number of these that have been successful in obtaining a placement on the scheme; the average waiting time to receive such a placement; her plans to improve the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47542/13]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the length of time employers have to advertise jobs under the JobBridge scheme; if there is any obligation on employers to respond to unsuccessful applicants; if all applicants must be interviewed; if there are obligations on employers to use objective criteria when selecting participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47543/13]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will implement the announcement that participants on JobBridge will be able to stay on the scheme for 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47544/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 130 to 132, inclusive, together.

On 18 September last I announced the extension of the operating criteria of JobBridge to allow for a maximum cumulative period spent on JobBridge of 18 months, 9 months remaining the maximum period for a single internship. These changes will come into effect within the next week and full details of these changes will be advertised on the home page of the JobBridge website .

Advertisements remain on the JobBridge website for a maximum of 8 weeks but may be taken down before then by the host organisation and also may be re-advertised. Participation in the scheme is voluntary. The interview process and follow-up with candidates are matters for the host organisation. However, the Department has developed a tool-kit of best practice for internships (available at ) and companies are encouraged to respond to all applications from jobseekers.

The Department does not keep statistics on the number of persons who apply for approval to go on JobBridge scheme or the average waiting time to receive such a placement. The application process is a matter for jobseekers and host organisations. As at 31 October, 2013, 22,633 placements had commenced since the scheme came into operation. I am considering the recommendations contained in the recent independent evaluation of JobBridge and any further changes to the scheme will be announced on .

The most up to date figures of acceptance for JobBridge positions on a county-by-county basis are set out in the following table.

Table 1. Breakdown of JobBridge interns by County since the Scheme came into operation