Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason behind the requirement that people on the Youthreach programme must finish that programme and sign on so that they are in receipt of a jobseeker's payment before they can take part in the JobBridge internship programme, in view of the fact that a young person coming off the Youthreach programme and aged under 24 years can only receive a maximum of €100 on jobseeker's allowance and a further entitlement of €50 on the JobBridge scheme giving a maximum payment of €150 a week, which is less than the payment they currently receive under Youthreach; her views on whether these barriers prevent Youthreach participants from seeking internships and improving their employment prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3675/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobBridge is a voluntary scheme to assist jobseekers in seeking work. It is available to individuals who are currently in receipt of one of Jobseeker’s Allowance/Jobseeker’s Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance payments or who are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days). Time spent on a range of activation measures, including the Youthreach programme, may count towards eligibility to participate on JobBridge provided that an individual has completed the programme in full.

It is particularly important that individuals complete relevant programmes and interventions before seeking to participate in another activation measure. This is important both for the individual themselves and for ensuring value for money for the Exchequer.

The weekly €50 top up is an additional payment made in recognition of the efforts and expenses of interns. It is paid on top of the standard jobseeker payment. I do not believe that there is any basis for discriminating in the amount paid to a young person who has just completed a Youthreach programme as compared to that of any other young person, for example a young person who has just completed another education or training programme.

Given the much higher rates of progression into employment among former JobBridge interns compared with the general rate of exit into employment from the live register, I do not believe that those undertaking the Youthreach programme will be discouraged from participating in JobBridge, once they have completed their programme.