Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1608. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of unpaid internships issued and or granted to persons to work in his Department over the past five years to 28 August 2019; the number of persons that took up unpaid internship roles in that timeframe; if his Department continues to offer unpaid internships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36155/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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My Department facilitates students in granting both paid and unpaid internships where possible. Last year my Department entered into an arrangement with DCU to facilitate 2 paid internships. This arrangement was undertaken as the course of study being followed by the internship participants was directly relevant and related to the work of the Department. The process also helped to foster links between the Department and academic teaching and research community with DCU. Such links help to foster collaboration in policy formation and provide a range of valuable external viewpoints.

Students and recent graduates also approach my Department on an individual basis seeking internships. These internships form part of the student’s course requirement and are short term in nature. My Department aims to facilitate such requests where possible with unpaid internships.

Since 2014, 12 unpaid internships have been facilitated in my Department.