Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are availing of the internship programme in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43109/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 and a high level of involuntary emigration and negative growth.

The scheme aims to provide unemployed people with the opportunity to secure work experience and to prove their competence to prospective employers, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of “no work, no experience; no experience, no work”.

Since the inception of JobBridge, a total of 44,551 internships have started, of which 8,192 of those internships commenced in 2015. As at 26 November, 2015, there were 4,844 individuals on an internship.