Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her response to the proposal by the National Youth Council to double JobBridge payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9122/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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JobBridge has made significant progress since its introduction in July 2011. To date, over 37,700 internship placements having commenced, there are currently 6,140 interns on the programme and a further 1,129 positions are advertised on the JobBridge website.

I have noted the contents of the National Youth Council’s recommendations relating to JobBridge.

Given the high level of voluntary participation in JobBridge and given the costs that would arise for the Exchequer, I see no merit in increasing the ‘top-up’ payment to the level proposed in the report and I have no plans to do this at present.