Internship Programme Aims to Get Youth Back to Work

Speaking at the launch of JobBridge, the new National Internship Scheme last week, Joan Burton TD, the Minister for Social Protection, said she was very encouraged by the positive feedback from many employers to the new National Internship Scheme.

“The launch of 5,000 places in JobBridge by my Department will offer a real chance to many people to get six or nine months of critical work experience – a foot on the ladder after training, apprenticeship or graduation. The commitment of the private sector, led by Mr Martin Murphy, Managing Director of HP Ireland who has chaired the Steering Group on the National Internship Scheme, will, I hope, result in a wide range of internship opportunities opening up,” said Ms Burton.

Minister Burton continued by stating that there is strong interest from companies in participating in an initiative such as JobBridge. “We have already received 500 expressions of interest from organisations offering approximately 1,000 internship opportunities. Over 320 of the members of ISME are committed to JobBridge with a pledge of over 590 internship places, and some 288 of the over 320 members will have their vacancies available within 3 months,” she said.

Consisting of 5,000 places, JobBridge will give individuals who have been on the Live Register for at least three months the opportunity to undertake a quality internship in an organisation in the private, public, community or voluntary sectors for a six or nine month period. Interns will receive an allowance of 50 euro per week in addition to their existing social welfare entitlement, and the allowance will be payable for the duration of the internship. As the Department of Social Protection is paying the weekly allowance to interns, there will be no direct cost to participating organisations.

JobBridge is open to jobseekers that are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after training or education, or as unemployed workers seeking to learn new skills. JobBridge interns will be allowed to retain all secondary benefits under the scheme, such as medical cards and rent allowances. Host organisations may not have vacancies in the area of the internship, and the number of interns a company may employ is also prescribed as a proportion of their staff number. Companies are also prohibited from displacing an employee to make way for an intern.
Companies which have endorsed JobBridge include Dawn Foods, KPMG, Arthur Cox, Mercury Engineering, Hertz, Hertz Shared Services Centre, ESB, Bord na Móna, Tesco, Price Waterhouse Coopers, A&L Goodbody, and Aer Lingus.

Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “The Government is committed to getting Ireland back to work, and JobBridge is an important part of that effort. Establishing a National Internship Scheme was a flagship commitment in last month’s Jobs Initiative. I believe that we need a collective effort by all sectors of society to tackle the challenges facing the country. JobBridge is just such a collective effort – with the goal of ensuring that we offer people the opportunity to gain work experience through a quality internship.”

Mr Martin Murphy, Managing Director of HP Ireland, said: “I have long advocated that industry should be leading the way in innovation and job creation in the Irish economy, and I am extremely pleased by the positive reaction that we have received to date on this initiative, with over 15 companies pledging their commitment to this programme prior to its commencement.

“From indigenous industry to multinationals to SMEs across a number of counties in Ireland, we have experienced the willingness of industry to play its role in equipping individuals with new and enterprising skills that will give them the necessary experience to enter or return to the workforce and secure long term employment in this country,” said Mr Murphy.

Minister Burton acknowledged the difficulties faced by Irish companies in the current economic climate. “I appreciate that, in the current climate, recruitment is a big decision for employers, particularly for small and medium enterprises. I would hope that some employers who, through JobBridge, find talented and motivated interns, can make the decision to offer employment to their intern. In other words, the period of internship would be a job interview for a longer period of employment,” she said.

The Minister for Small Business, Mr John Perry TD, said: “I am particularly delighted to see that a number of small and medium enterprises have expressed interest in the Scheme, and I would encourage all SMEs to consider the possibilities which they may have to take on interns. The creation of good quality internships, spread throughout the country, is a great way to support both indigenous enterprises and also ensure that these SMEs have access to well trained, experienced people who are ready to take up job opportunities when they are created.”

Minister Perry urged all those companies who may have the capacity to take on interns to get involved.