John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants in each year since its inception in July 2011 in the JobBridge internship programme in each county; the number of these placements that have led to full-time employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33047/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason top-up payments are available for the JobBridge scheme but not the Springboard scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33591/14]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a company is permitted to offer internships under JobBridge when an existing employee of 11 years was put on a three-day week in 2011 and, for the past four months, is working four days a week, and when this employee wants to work a full five days a week but is told by the employer there is not work for five days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33678/14]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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102. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason special needs assistant positions are being advertised on her Department's website under the JobBridge national internship scheme; if there was prior consultation and an agreement drawn up between her Department and the Department of Education and Skills that SNA posts previously funded by that Department would now be filled under the JobBridge national internship scheme at no cost to the Department of Education and Skills; which persons will undertake to mentor interns as specified under the JobBridge SNA posts; her plan for these persons once they have completed the internship; if they will be required to sign back on the live register and if the posts they previously held and for which they cannot reapply will be re-advertised the following year for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33793/14]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the conditions for persons who wish to participate in internships; if there are conditions and stipulations attached thereto; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32899/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 93, 95, 102 and 169 together.

Individuals wishing to undertake internships under the JobBridge scheme must be in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment i.e. Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, or signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the last 6 months and have a live claim. Eligibility of potential interns is assessed by the Department once the individuals have been selected by the host organisation.

The following tables set out details of the number of internships since 2011 on a County basis. An independent evaluation of JobBridge found that 61% of former interns moved into employment within 5 or more months of finishing their internship.

The Department pays each JobBridge intern a €50 per week top up in addition to their Social Welfare payment to take account of the additional ‘out of pocket’ expenses that may be incurred in undertaking an internship. Springboard is operated by the Higher Education Authority under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills.

Host organisations are not permitted to displace an employee with a JobBridge intern. Host organisations must undertake to provide a high quality real workplace internship experience for an intern for at least 30 hours per week. A robust monitoring system is in place to ensure that all internships under the JobBridge scheme are fully compliant. If the Deputy has specific details of displacement or other abuse of JobBridge to give to the Department, the matter will be fully investigated.

Internship opportunities, including SNAs, are advertised by the host organisation, in this case schools, at their discretion. When advertising internship opportunities host organisations undertake to comply with the stringent criteria that the Department applies for the protection of the intern and the integrity JobBridge scheme. In addition to these requirements, host organisations must also be mindful of the requirements within their own Sector or governing authority. The Department has ongoing liaison with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the operation of JobBridge in the Education Sector.

In addition to the initial vetting of advertisements and the requirement for the host organisation to participate in monthly compliance reporting, the Department has, as outlined, on-going monitoring of internships; this includes the regular review of monthly compliance reports and random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. The strict requirements for mentoring also apply to internships within the Education Sector.

If an intern does not receive an offer of employment at the end of an internship they are required to notify their local Social Welfare office and sign back onto the Live Register. Interns are not permitted to undertake a second internship with the same host organisation.

Table 1. JobBridge Internships in 2011 by County