ABOUT HALF of the 1,124 people across the country taking part in the Government’s JobBridge internship scheme moved from existing work placement programmes to the new scheme, according to Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.
Speaking at the JobBridge road show in Athlone yesterday, she confirmed nearly half the internships in the new scheme had not gone to those who were idle but to people on existing schemes. She said this was because they would get paid more if they moved to the new scheme.
“We have 500 people who are new to interning who are now in internships,” she said. “We have another roughly 500 people who were on a programme called the Work Placement Programme, where they got work experience but they got no additional money from social welfare.”
Placements on the Work Placement Programme are allocated to each FÁS region according to the number of people on the Live Register in that region.
“If you are an intern in a recognised internship you get an extra €50 a week on top of your existing payment, so about 500 of those people have transferred over to the internship programme, understandably, and we have let them do that, so there are actually now about 1,000 interns out there and working with companies throughout Ireland,” the Minister said.
The JobBridge scheme has more than 2,600 internship opportunities available across the State, guests at the first of four regional JobBridge road shows were told.
Figures provided by the JobBridge programme show 1,124 people have been placed in internships.
Established 10 weeks ago, the Government scheme offers internships in the private, public and voluntary sector to those in receipt of social welfare for at least three months. Successful applicants are offered work experience for six or nine months, along with an extra €50 per week in addition to their social welfare payments.
Ms Burton believes the two-year scheme will help people avoid a “Catch 22” situation where workers cannot get employment because they have no experience and cannot get experience because there is no work.
Eligibility is automatic after three months on the Live Register regardless of training or education. Participants will be provided with a mentor and protected under existing labour laws during their internships.
Chairman of the steering group and managing director of HP Ireland Martin Murphy encouraged more small to medium-sized companies to participate in the scheme.
“I am extremely impressed by what has been achieved since the scheme was launched on July 1st. We have had over 100 interns starting every week which augers well for us to deliver and exceed on our objective of 5,000 employees for the life of the scheme,” he said.
According to Mr Murphy, the scheme benefits both employers and participants and “is a model that can deliver real value to all involved”.
However, not all employers are happy with the criteria set down in the scheme.
Westmeath-based HR consultant Michael O’Sullivan questioned the eligibility requirements and accused the Government of “promoting people having to go on the dole”.
Mr O’Sullivan believes anyone seeking work experience should automatically qualify for the internships, but he said “you must sign on for three months, you are almost encouraging people to go on the dole, I think that is wrong”.
JobBridge shows are to take place in Galway, Cork and Limerick in coming weeks. Further information at www.jobbridge.ie