Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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555. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an adult dependant under the disability allowance scheme can qualify for an internship under the JobBridge programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10466/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

The aim of the scheme is 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”.

To be eligible to participate, candidates must be in receipt of one of a number of specified social welfare payments immediately prior to commencement; and for at least 3 of the preceding 6 months.

In order to target scare Exchequer resources, eligibility was initially confined to unemployed people on the Live Register but has since been expanded beyond those in receipt to Jobseekrs Benefit/Allowance (or signing for credits) to include persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment, Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory/Non-Contributory Pension, Deserted Wives Benefit, Deserted Wives Allowance, Blind Persons Pension and Disability Allowance.

People who are registered as a Qualified Adult, on another person’s payment are not eligible to participate, but may make an application for a jobseeker payment in their own right and thereafter apply for JobBridge.

An evaluation of JobBridge is currently underway, the results of which will facilitate consideration of how the scheme might best be further developed.

Additional information on eligibility criteria is available on the JobBridge website at