Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

391. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to replace the JobBridge scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21951/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As you may be aware, I recently announced that I plan to replace JobBridge later this year. I believe that economic and labour market conditions have changed for the better since the scheme was introduced in 2011 and that a new scheme should reflect that.

JobBridge has been successful in meeting its objectives over the past five years. It has helped over 21,000, mainly small, employers to provide valuable work experience to over 48,000 unemployed jobseekers. An independent evaluation of JobBridge published in 2013 found that overall satisfaction levels with the scheme were very high, with two thirds of respondents stating that would recommend the scheme to a friend or family member. Levels of abuse of the scheme by employers were very low. Most notably the evaluation found that about 61% of participants progressed into paid employment within a short period of completing their internship. This is a very high progression rate and suggests that JobBridge has helped about 30,000 jobseekers to secure employment.

Notwithstanding these achievements, JobBridge has been subject to a high level of criticism, albeit that much of that is based on anecdote or very small-scale surveys by various interest groups. I intend to respond to these criticisms in the design of a new work experience scheme.

It is, however, important that any new scheme be informed by the best available evidence. It is for this reason that I intend to await the results of a second large scale evaluation of JobBridge which is currently under way.

You may be aware that I have asked the Labour Market Council to work with the Department in the design of the new scheme. I am anxious to finalise the design as quickly as possible and I have asked the Council to respond to me no later than September. I will announce my proposals for a new scheme shortly thereafter.