Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the JobBridge process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33256/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The JobBridge Scheme was introduced in July 2011 with the aim of providing unemployed people with an opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective employers. Participation on JobBridge is wholly voluntary and is open to all jobseekers who meet the qualifying criteria, irrespective of their skill levels.

JobBridge caters for new entrants to the labour market following education or training, and also unemployed workers whose existing skills are not appropriate for the types of jobs that are emerging in post- recession Ireland. It offers an opportunity both for people with very low levels of education or skills who do not wish to return to school or college and those who have gained very high levels of education, but who need some practical work experience under their belt to compete effectively in the labour market. To date, JobBridge has attracted voluntary participation from over 42,000 jobseekers and has encouraged over 17,000 host organisations to offer work experience opportunities to them.

In order to provide a JobBridge internship however, a host organisation must agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. These conditions include the requirements that the internship not be used to displace full-time paid employment and that the host organisation does not offer an internship in the same area of activity that they have made an employee redundant. The Department has a robust screening and monitoring process in place, and each host organisation must agree to the Terms and Conditions at the outset of the scheme process, before their application will be validated.

The Department also undertakes on-going monitoring of internships to ensure compliance. This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and conducting random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the internship. In cases where any breaches of the scheme are uncovered, remedial action is taken immediately. An independent evaluation of JobBridge found only minimal instances of displacement.

The Department fully investigates any allegations of non-compliance. If the Deputy is aware of alleged instances of displacement he should inform the Department immediately by e-mailing so that they may be fully investigated.