Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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28. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the use of JobBridge interns by companies which are running jobs clubs on behalf of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4977/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department funds the operation of 50 Job Clubs located around the State. These Job Clubs are operated by 46 independent contractors who are, in the main, not for profit Local Development Companies (LDCs) and community based organisations. As Job Club providers are private limited companies they are entitled to be treated like any other employer for the purposes of JobBridge. In that regard, like any employer organisation, the remit of staff in Job Clubs can extend to assisting and training of new recruits (including interns) as well as providing actual work experience. Regarding the appropriateness of JobBridge interns working in Job Clubs, the question of the suitability of any individual intern to undertake particular roles is a matter to be assessed, on a case by case basis, by Job Club management. Department records show that only two Job Clubs have hosted JobBridge interns. Department management is satisfied that the use of interns did not give rise to any cause for concern in these instances. In addition, Departmental records show that all of these interns who completed an internship subsequently entered into paid employment. Accordingly the internships appear to have met their purpose in providing a bridge between unemployment and paid employment. Their use was therefore an appropriate activation intervention and is to be welcomed rather than criticised.