National Internship Scheme Launches In July

The Minister for Social Protection has announced a new National Internship Scheme for 5,000 people who are currently on the live register. The Scheme will provide work experience opportunities for jobseekers in the private, public or community and voluntary sectors.

The 5,000 places are part of 20,900 new and additional places in training, education and work experience programmes announced as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative. They give effect to commitments contained in The Programme for Government to give priority to getting unemployed people back into work.

Participants will receive €50 in addition to their existing social welfare payment and they will retain all of their secondary benefits. The Scheme will not displace existing workers.

Speaking about the scheme, Minister Joan Burton said: “The National Internship Scheme will provide 5,000 people who are currently on the live register with valuable, and meaningful, employment experience when it is launched on July 1st.”

“The Scheme will ensure that people can enhance their current skills and develop new ones. It will provide a real alternative to people who find themselves without work. It will also give young people the opportunity to gain valuable experience as they move between study and the beginning of their working lives.

The Minister added: “I am calling on employers and organisations across the private, public and community and voluntary sectors to actively participate in the National Internship Scheme and offer quality worthwhile internship opportunities.”

The increase in training and education places for the unemployed are part of a renewed, pro-active, joined-up labour activation strategy. The other three pillars of this strategy are increased incentives for the unemployed to progress into training or education; more regular face-to-face engagement with those on the live register; and increased incentives for employers to create jobs.

(BMcN/GK)