Written answers

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Department of Social Protection

JobBridge Programme

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the initiative he plans to bring forward to replace the JobBridge programme; the timeframe he envisages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5613/17]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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JobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse of our economy and particularly the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. Its main aim was to help unemployed jobseekers to break the vicious cycle of ‘no experience no job, but no job no experience’. Since then over 19,000 Host Organisations have offered work placement opportunities to over 48,000 participants.

The findings of the recent external evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon Economic Consultants show that the scheme has been very effective in improving the employment outcomes of jobseekers. It indicates that 79% of participants – about 38,000 people – have had some period of employment since completing their placement, with over 64% still in employment. Jobseekers who participated in JobBridge improved their employment outcomes by 32% when compared with non-participants. By any measure this is a significant uplift and shows that placements with a direct link to an employer deliver higher employment outcomes than other options.

Most importantly, the scheme is viewed positively by participants. A majority of over the 10,000 respondents to a survey rated the scheme positively on 18 out of 20 aspects. For example, 70% of participants felt that the placement provided them with a quality work experience and gave them new skills.

The complete Indecon evaluation can be found at: .

While acknowledging that success, it is clear that we can do better. For example, jobseekers feel that the payment could be improved, and employers indicated a willingness to contribute to the cost of the scheme. As a ‘catch-all’ type of programme, there are some deadweight and displacement costs associated with it that can be tackled.

So, having considered the evidence and suggestions put forward by Indecon and the Labour Market Council, I announced my intention to replace JobBridge with a new work experience programme that is better suited to the much-improved labour market and addresses criticisms of the scheme.

In taking this path, I am conscious that any new scheme needs the support, trust and confidence of employers, jobseekers and the public. That is why I instructed my officials to consult with key stakeholders on the design principles that should underpin any new work experience programme.

I closed JobBridge to new applications from October 2016 to facilitate this consultation and an orderly wind-down of the existing scheme. These consultations are well underway and I expect my officials to report back to me on the outcome shortly. I will then announce my detailed intentions on a new programme.

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