Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to make changes to the eligibility criteria for interns participation on the JobBridge scheme to facilitate persons who are on a qualifying payment such as jobseeker's allowance, and who do not have a 78 day qualifying period in the three months previous, in view of the fact that they may be working part-time at weekends and only signing on for four days and who are very anxious to participate on the scheme in order that they can improve their employment prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28556/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I have no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for JobBridge. Those working part-time or casually and who are in receipt of an eligible payment or signing for credits are eligible to participate in JobBridge. Under the current arrangements, a person may meet the requirement of being in receipt of a qualifying payment (or signing for credits) for 78 days over a six-month period, not a three-month period as the Deputy states. This six-month period was set in order to facilitate those who work casually or part-time. I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in the Department will be more than happy to assist the Deputy if he has a specific case in hand.