Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of students who undertook work experience or internships with State and semi-State agencies under his aegis in 2019; the cost in terms of wages and allowances; and the estimated numerical capacity of State and semi-State agencies to provide work experience and internships on an annual basis. [12948/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine welcomes students to take part in internships and to avail of work experience throughout our divisions and subdivisions. These positions are fully paid and all students are mentored by experienced members of staff. All students are remunerated at point one of the clerical officer pay scale. Thirty five students availed of work experience or internships in 2019.

My Department is a long time supporter of providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and has participated for many years in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme. This programme provides a six-month paid and mentored work placement for graduates with a disability. Four paid and mentored placements were facilitated in 2019 under the WAM programme. WAM participants are remunerated at point one of the executive officer pay scale.

The attached document shows current Civil Service salary pay scales.

The capacity of State Bodies to provide work experience is an operational matter for the bodies themselves. I have referred this query to the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department and have asked that they respond directly to the Deputy.