Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position for persons on JobBridge and Gateway schemes, if they are involved in an accident in the workplace (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36450/15]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding JobBridge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36480/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 195 together.

JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse in the economy – particularly the sharp increase in unemployment. The aim of the JobBridge Scheme is to give unemployed people an opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective employers.

As part of the advertisement process for JobBridge, the Department has robust screening and monitoring procedures in place. Each Host Organisation must, inter alia, agree to the basic Terms and Conditions at the outset and before an application can be validated. These include the requirements that the host organisation must have Public/Employers Liability insurance and Motor Insurance, if applicable, that will cover any interns on the JobBridge Scheme, and be fully compliant with current workplace Health and Safety and all other legal and sectoral requirements. A Host Organisation cannot proceed beyond the application stage until it confirms compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the JobBridge Scheme. Host Organisations must also ensure procedural and regulatory compliance in relation to placements that require Garda Vetting or other sectoral requirements. In such instances, interns must agree to comply with requests for Garda Vetting and/or other sectoral requirements, where necessary, in accordance with the Host Organisation’s policy.

It is also important to note that participation on JobBridge is not mandatory. Jobseekers avail of JobBridge opportunities on a purely voluntary basis and there is no sanction of any kind if a jobseeker does not apply for or avail of JobBridge. The Department has not and will not tolerate any abuse of the JobBridge Scheme or exploitation of participants. There is a rigorous control and monitoring regime in place to mitigate the risk of misuse or abuse. The Department also conducts regular monitoring visits to determine how individual internships are progressing. Where abuses of JobBridge are found, they are dealt with as a matter of priority and appropriate remedial action taken.

Participants on the Gateway Scheme have a contract of employment for 22 months with the relevant city or county councils and class A PRSI contributions are paid on their behalf. Gateway participants are covered by the Public/Employers Liability insurance of the relevant authority with which they undertake the work placement.

The Deputy makes reference to the use of JobBridge in Donegal by a company subcontracted by the HSE. According to the Department’s records, this company has provided a total of six internship positions in Donegal, five of which have already finished and one which is currently ongoing. Of these six internships, all have been in the area of administration, including four as File Manager/General Office Administrator and one each as Office/Payroll Administrator and Receptionist/Office Assistant. We have no details of JobBridge internships in Donegal as care workers for this host organisation.