Joan Burton TD, Minister for Social Protection, addressing the Irish Business Organization in New York

Older Interns? Getting Your Irish Up

5/14/2012

By Kerry Hannon, Contributor

In Tina Fey’s new movie, The Intern, she plays the founder of an e-business with a fashion focus, who takes on a 70-something intern to much eye-rolling angst.

Are internships for older workers on the cusp of going mainstream?

Marc Freedman, founder of Civic Ventures, writes in his recent Harvard Business Review blog, “Outsourcing The Old Folks: ”A small but expanding cluster of new movies is starting to grapple with the experience of millions of baby boomers entering uncharted territory in the years between midlife and anything resembling true old age.

I wouldn’t say senior internships are trending in the U.S., even if the notion is surfacing in conventional culture as entertainment.

The Senate Aging Committee, however, is holding a hearing tomorrow afternoon on efforts to address the issue of unemployment among older workers, “Missed by the Recovery: Solving the Long-Term Unemployment Crisis for Older Workers.” Maybe the idea will come up.

But in Ireland, there is an innovative internship program that welcomes older workers, called Pathways to Work.

It’s part of Ireland’s strategy to help the unemployed get back into the workforce.

Irish eyes are smiling. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ireland’s Minister of Social Protection Joan Burton at Sardis restaurant in Manhattan at a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration not too long ago.

Sipping a cup of tea in a cozy room tucked above the rollicking celebration of Irish dancing and balladeering in the main dining room, Minister Burton opened up about the new opportunities for experienced, older workers to get back in the door at Irish companies in growing fields.

She was in the midst of a whirlwind visit to New York to promote Ireland as a leading tourist and business destination. Uber-media consultant Terry Rooney arranged a meeting for me with her to discuss her pioneering approach to getting Irish workers back to work.

Burton’s mission might offer some insight into what government and the private sector here in the U.S. can do to ramp up employment for older workers looking for jobs today.

Burton was appointed Minister a little over a year ago. Her main priority: “jobs, jobs, jobs–to encourage unemployed people back to work through education and training,” she told me.

The country, once known as the Celtic Tiger, was slammed in 2008 when the overvalued property market imploded and the banking industry went down with it. “Thirty percent of our economy was hit hard, pulling a large slice of the Irish economy out of circulation,” Burton calmly explained. “It’s never going to return to that, so we need to reinvent what we do. Refocus what we do.”

Lots of workers were stranded–from construction engineers and carpenters  to retail and real estate salespersons to financial and banking managers and advisors.

Unemployment now stands at 14.5 percent, compared to the average unemployment rate in the EU of 10.2%, and 8.1 percent in the U.S.

“We want a good social welfare system that acts as a bit of a trampoline. Not only does it cushion you and give you income support, but it helps you get right back up there,” she told me. “We have a lot of qualified people who in the current climate can’t get a job because they don’t have experience” to make the shift into one of the growing areas.” There are openings cropping up in fields like accounting, computer programmers, digital marketers, financial services, healthcare, IT, online gaming, and biotech, to name a few.

How to land one of these jobs? In Ireland, Pathways to Work is answering that question.

The program is primarily focused on those who have been out of work for a year or more. The aim is to get 75,000 people back into the workforce and to reduce the average time spent on the live register, or what we call receiving unemployment checks, from 21 months today to less than 12 months by the end of 2015.

 Older worker internships are key. A big piece of the effort is JobBridge, a National Internship program. JobBridge provides work experience placements for interns for a 6-or 9-month period, regardless of age.

Admittedly, JobBridge has been particularly attractive to the under 35 age groups. Internships are often a key step to getting a job when you’re young. But Burton says older workers are getting in on the action.

Why not do an internship, when you’re older and starting out once again? I know I could never have broken into the field of journalism without an internship at the Washingtonian Magazine when I was 21. And I always advise younger job seekers and college age protégés to get an internship–even if it’s not paid.

For older workers, that’s hard to do. There just aren’t many companies offering internships to post-50 workers looking to find a job, or make a career change into a new field. And working without a paycheck is simply not appealing when you reach a certain age, or not feasible–you might need the income now, if you’ve been out of work for a while.

The aim of Ireland’s JobBridge is to break the cycle where unemployed jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience and need to learn new skills. The goal is to provide work experience in the private and public sectors. Interns receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement.

These internship openings go to people who have been on the live register for at least three months. As an incentive, the Irish government offers tax breaks to employers, and if they hire the person, that tax break continues for the first 18 months of employment.

The program has been so popular that last week Burton announced 1,000 extra places for JobBridge. Since it went live just ten months, 6,840 internships have started.

Burton gets it. Employers are nervous about hiring. “If they are going to make a commitment to take somebody in they want to really feel, especially in smaller business, that this person fits and can go with the flow,” she said.

For unemployed workers, “the internship helps establish you,” she said. “It gets you out of the syndrome that you haven’t worked, It fills that gap in your CV, and helps you put your foot on the ladder.”

JobBridge is an internship program that I think U.S. corporations and the public sector should give an eyeball to as a role model to address the dilemma of long-term unemployment for older workers.

The demand by unemployed older workers in this country exists. As you may know, the employment news in April was not particularly encouraging here, especially for older workers and jobseekers, according to Sara E. Rix of AARP’s Public Policy Institute, who each month analyzes BLS data and develops an extensive report on older workers unemployment.

• The unemployment rate of 6.3 percent for those aged 55 and over showed no improvement over the rate for March.
• Average duration of unemployment for older jobseekers was up to 60 weeks; the number of long-term unemployed had risen as well.
• There were more older persons saying they would like to be working even though they were no longer in the labor force and seeking employment; in fact, the number of older persons who were out of the labor force rose by 270,000 between March and April.

How much of this increase might be due to jobseeking discouragement as opposed to other reasons (ready to retire, for example) is not known, Rix explains. The number of older discouraged workers, however, was up in April.

The persistence of long-term unemployment remains a matter of great concern, Rix says. “The longer a worker is unemployed, the harder it for that worker to overcome negative assumptions on the part of employers about why they haven’t found work. In addition, skills atrophy.”

Many jobseekers—particularly older ones—become discouraged and drop out of the labor force, with potentially damaging costs for current and future financial security in retirement.

I know the critics say internships just mean employers get workers for free. On the other hand, for jobseekers, it’s a free education and networking opportunity that’s worth exploring. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this? Are internships good for older workers or exploitation?

Minister Burton Addresses Labour Women’s On The Stability Treaty

 
I speak today as a woman, a mother, a Minister, deputy leader of the Labour Party and Director of Elections for the Labour Party’s referendum campaign on the Stability Treaty.

And no matter which of those hats I am wearing, I can give you any number of reasons to vote Yes.

As a woman, I have always looked favourably on the European Union. When Ireland joined the EU, I saw membership as a way of benefiting from all the freedoms which European women enjoyed: the right to work after we got married, the right to equal pay, the right to control our own fertility.

As a mother, I remain delighted that my own daughter and all her generation take those freedoms for granted.

But Europe hasn’t just been good for Irish women; it has been good for us all.

Our participation in the European Union helped us break free from British dominance; helped expand the definition of being Irish; helped us find markets for our goods and services and attracted multinational investors, mainly Americans, to our shores as they sought to gain a toehold for their products and services in the European marketplace.

Our European neighbours have over the years also supported us generously with structural funds so that our economy could catch up with the rest of Europe, bringing unprecedented prosperity on a scale that those who fought for Irish freedom could hardly dare to have dreamed of.

And let us not forget either that the European Union helped form bonds on a continent that had been ravaged by the Second World War – heralding a period not just of unprecedented prosperity, but of great peace as well.

It is true that the financial crash of 2008 has left both Europe and Ireland reeling. As Minister for Social Protection, I see the distress, dashed hopes and hardship caused by the economic crisis. But remember this: the Stability Treaty is designed to help stabilise the situation.

The Department of Social Protection will spend €20.5 billion this year alone to help those who are genuinely in need. Our pensioners. Our disabled. And our unemployed.

We need to be sure that the government will continue to have the money to pay for this humane social welfare system, because unemployment is not going to disappear overnight despite the many good jobs announcements made by the likes of PayPal, Mylan, Apple, Cisco, Amgen and SAP in recent months.

And the last thing we need is to do something that would jeopardise existing jobs or discourage investors from creating the sort of new jobs we’re hearing about every week.

IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary is urging people to vote Yes because he says that by voting Yes, we will be eliminating any conceivable doubt about our relationship with Europe in to the future.

That is exactly what I also hear when I talk to multinational employers in my own constituency and all around the country. They say one of the main reasons they continue to locate in Ireland is because they believe we are totally committed to the European Union.

Why do we have this Treaty? Well, because late last year the euro currency – the currency in which the Department of Social Protection pays pensions, jobseekers allowance, disability allowances – was in real trouble. It was genuinely close to collapse and European governments had to respond.

What twenty-five European countries – including everyone using the euro – proposed was the Stability Treaty.

A treaty designed to stabilise our euro and set out how countries work together and help each other. The Treaty has rules for good housekeeping so hard-earned taxpayers’ money is managed properly.

The opponents of the Treaty suggest that good budgetary housekeeping will in some way undermine growth and investment. But we only have to look to the examples of the Nordic countries and Germany to show how good housekeeping, economic growth and social investment can go hand in hand.

Voting Yes to the Treaty gives us access to the new bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism – the ESM. We hope and intend to say goodbye to the Troika on time next year and raise money again in a normal way – but what if circumstances mean we can’t?

I want to be sure that there’s money there to cover the €20.5 billion we are spending on social protection.

I cannot understand why anyone would choose to walk a tightrope without a safety net, in this case the €700 ESM billion safety net.

Sinn Fein and their hard left allies can’t say where they would get the money to run the country. Richard Boyd Barrett let the cat of the bag when he said he would find the money by increasing taxes by €10 billion next year.

I would far prefer to have certain access to a €700 billion insurance policy than to impose such a huge tax burden on our citizens at such a difficult time.

There is a big advantage of staying the course with Europe. For starters, collective action to boost growth and investment offers a much better prospect to restore the health of national budgets than going it alone.
I am heartened by the election of President Francois Hollande, a fellow socialist who sees investment and growth as a key to unlocking our common futures.

Our previous experience of such joint European action through the Regional and Social funds was entirely positive. Our roads and colleges are the legacy of those funds that we continue to enjoy today.

Ireland is not alone in its current troubles. Bank debts and unemployment haunt many European economies. There is a lot more to be done to help beleaguered countries I believe we are far better off making that case along with like-minded Governments inside the European tent than being a lone voice outside.

As deputy leader and director of elections for the Labour Party, my message to you is to Vote Yes in the Stability Treaty Referendum on 31 May.

Voting Yes will promote stability in the Irish economy and will enhance a stable euro – our currency, the money in your pocket.

Voting Yes will increase investor confidence in Ireland.

Voting Yes will give us guaranteed access to funds if we need them. The ESM is our insurance policy as we work out way out of the bailout programme and return to the markets.

Voting Yes is simply a matter of good housekeeping. It will ensure responsible budgeting so that we never have a repeat of the economic mismanagement of the past.

Voting Yes gives us the certainty we need as women, mothers, politicians and citizens to plan for a certain future for Ireland and for Europe.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, this morning (Thursday 10^th May 2012) opened the National Recruitment Federation Annual Conference, which has as its theme ‘The Way Forward’.

 Speaking at the Conference, Minister Burton said: “The theme of your annual conference, ‘The Way Forward’  has never been more relevant – to you, the recruitment consultants, in your crucial work; to the Government in leading the country and the economy back to stability and prosperity; and, indeed, to me in my work in the Department of Social Protection. A major transformation is taking place in the way that employment and activation services are delivered. This is being driven by the Government’s ‘Action Plan on Jobs’ and ‘Pathways to Work’ policy initiatives. 

“We will not repeat the mistakes of the 1980s and 1990s when unemployment remained high even after economic recovery took hold. This time, those who have been unemployed will be job-ready when the recovery comes. Our target is to get 75,000 people who are currently long-term unemployed back into the workforce and to reduce the average time spent on the live register from 21 months today to less than 12 months by the end of 2015.”

Minister Burton told the delegates that they have a critical role to play in meeting these ambitious targets and strongly encouraged them to engage with her Department’s services and with those who are unemployed when making recruitment choices. The Minister assured delegates that jobseekers will, with the assistance of the Department of Social Protection, have received the supports that they need to enable them to be job ready, highly motivated and an asset to whichever organisation they join.  

Minister Burton continued: “My Department is resetting the relationship with employers and industry professionals.   Our aim is to develop more meaningful and strategic engagement with employers and recruitment consultants to ensure that you have access to skilled candidates who are work ready. 

“My officials are also exploring opportunities for contracting with the private sector as a means of complementing our own resources in areas such as job matching and job placement. As part of the consultations that have been underway, I have been taking a keen interest in the meetings that officials of my Department have been having with representatives of your Federation.”  

Minister Burton concluded by acknowledging the work of the National Recruitment Federation. The National Recruitment Federation comprises 3,000 recruitment consultants in almost 200 active employment agencies, placing almost 70,000 individuals, more than a third of whom are going into permanent placements.

A number of supports for employers and jobseekers from the Department of Social Protection are set out below. 

Notes:

 Supports for jobseekers and employment growth measures

• The Department of Social Protection will spend €977 million on employment supports including Community Employment schemes in 2012, up from €882 million in 2011. This increased spending of €95 million, against a backdrop of significant fiscal consolidation, underlines the Government’s commitment to enhancing support for employment.

• The Department is offering over 80,000 job placement or work experience initiatives in 2012 including JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, Tús, the Rural Social Scheme and the Jobs Initiative.

• The Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme, administered by the Department of Social Protection, which exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees for twelve months, was extended into 2012 and to cover the first 18 months of employment.

• The Government has introduced a range of reforms and incentives to support, protect and create jobs, including through the Jobs Initiative in May 2011.  Job creation and protection was also a central priority underpinning Budget 2012.

• A range of measures were included across a number of sectors to support employment growth in multinational and indigenous companies, the agri-food sector, international financial services, research and development activity and start–up companies.

The National Recruitment Federation

• The National Recruitment Federation, which was founded in 1971, is the representative body of the recruitment agency industry in Ireland. The Recruitment sector employs over 3,000 staff and approximately 40,000 temporary workers. The industry is worth €1billion per annum.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD today announced 1,000 extra places for JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme
 
Commenting on the successes of the scheme to-date, the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD and Mr Martin Murphy Managing Director of HP Ireland and Chair of the Steering Group on the National Internship Scheme said that JobBridge had exceeded their expectations since it went live on 1st July last year.
 
“Such has been the level of demand for the scheme, I am delighted to be announcing proposals to increase the number of places available in JobBridge and to widen the eligibility criteria.” said Minister Burton “The number of available places will be increased to 6,000 with immediate effect.  The eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Disability Allowance.  These changes will take effect from 28th May 2012.”
 
The Minister added: “JobBridge was one of the pillars of the Government’s first Jobs Initiative and it set out to help those seeking employment to gain valuable experience while enhancing their prospects of securing employment. It is one element of the Department of Social Protection’s wider activation programme and a good example of how we engage with Jobseekers”
 
“The scheme has made significant progress to date.  In just ten months since the scheme was launched 6,840 internships have started. The initial target provided for a maximum of 5,000 places at any point in time.  At 4th May 2012, 4,670 participants were on JobBridge placements and 1,876 posts were being advertised on the scheme’s website.”
 
Martin Murphy said that there had been strong take-up of the scheme from private sector employers with two thirds (67%) of interns placed with private companies.  One fifth of placements are in public sector bodies with the Community & Voluntary sector accounting for the remaining participants.
 
“I have received very positive feedback on JobBridge from business people across the spectrum and the National Internship Scheme is now hardwired into the range of opportunities open to those who want to get back into the workplace. Companies and organisations of all sizes have embraced JobBridge with smaller companies of less than 50 employees accounting for 57% of placements. Larger companies (over 250 employees) have also participated strongly with almost a quarter (24%) of placements in these firms.”
“JobBridge is delivering real value to all involved.  For interns, it offers a real chance to equip themselves with new skills, often getting them into the workplace with the opportunity to secure long term employment. ”
 
It is clear from the data that JobBridge has been particularly attractive to the 20-25 and 26-35 age groups. The former represents 35% while the latter represents 41% of all placements.
 
Take-up of JobBridge was particularly strong in the Dublin region with two in five of all placements.  The Southwest/Southeast region accounted for 23%, as did the West/Midwest/Midlands region with the Northwest/Northeast making up the balance (13%).
 
Preliminary data from the interns who ended their placements in recent months indicates that some 797 interns, on the immediate completion of their internship, have gone into employment with either their JobBridge Host Organisation or another company. It is important to note that this data does not take account of an intern who may have secured employment in the subsequent weeks or months after completing their internship.  A picture of the career paths of JobBridge interns will become clearer following the independent evaluation of the scheme which will be undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
 
Since 1st January 2012, companies who employ interns can avail of the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme which exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees.  This will provide an additional boost to JobBridge.
 
Minister Burton concluded: “I have commissioned a full independent evaluation of the JobBridge Scheme.  However, the initial data suggests that it has been very successful in meeting the objectives we initially set and it is making a real contribution to helping unemployed people re-engage with the workplace.”
 
Minister Burton also added: “A variety of measures have been introduced to protect the intern and to ensure the integrity of the JobBridge Scheme.  In this regard, my Department is involved in the continuous monitoring of internships; in order to ensure that the placement provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the intern. It is worth noting that participation in the Scheme is voluntary and an intern may contact the JobBridge team at any stage of their Internship for advice and support. ” 
 
ENDS

 
Notes for Editors:
 
Interns on the National Internship Scheme are awarded an extra €50 in addition to their Jobseeker’s payment. The top up payment will cost €13 million in a full year.
 
JobBridge Statistical Data – as at 3rd May 2012
 
Age Profile of Participants
Age Band Grand Total %
<18 2 0.03%
18-20 116 1.70%
20-25 2,413 35.28%
26-35 2,807 41.04%
36-45 976 14.27%
46-55 428 6.26%
56-65 98 1.43%
Grand Total 6,840 100.00%
 
 
Placements by Company Size
Employees Grand Total %
  0 -  49 3,915 57.24%
250 – + 1,618 23.65%
50 – 249 1,123 16.42%
Undefined 184 2.69%
Grand Total 6,840 100%
 
 
Placements by Company Sector
Company Type Grand Total %
Private 4,569 66.80%
Public 1,448 21.17%
Community/Voluntary 562 8.22%
Undefined 261 3.81%
Grand Total 6,840 100.00%
 

 
Key Messages
 
·         JobBridge is working
 
·         In excess of 6,800 interns have commenced placements in first ten months , exceeding expectations
 
·         Strong take up by private, public and voluntary/community organisations 67:21:11
 
·         Strong take up across all company sizes (under 50 employees-57%; over 250- 24%)
 
·         Strong take up by the 20-25 (35% of placements) and 26-35 (41% of placements) age groups
 
·         Minister to announce increasing places and widening eligibility
 
·         Very early indications of positive progression rates -  too early to judge, but similar to research into European schemes
 
·         An independent evaluation of the Scheme is currently being undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
 
·         New PRSI Incentive Scheme will encourage retention of interns
 
Questions and Answers
 
Q1.      What is the current uptake on JobBridge?
The Scheme has made significant progress to-date.  In just nine months since the Scheme was launched 6,842 internships have started. The initial target provided for a maximum of 5,000 places at any point in time.  At 3rd May 2012, 4,670 participants were on JobBridge placements and 1,876 posts were being advertised on the Scheme’s website.
 
 
Q.2   Can you provide a Regional Breakdown of this data?
 
(a)   Regional Starts to Date
 
Regions JobBridge Total % of Total
 
Dublin 
 Dublin 
  2,790 
   40.78%
 Midlands 445 6.50%
 Mid-West 567 8.29%
West/
Mid-West/
Midlands Region West 560 8.18%
 North East 460 6.72%
North West/
North East Region North West 404 5.90%
 South East 739 10.80%
South West/
South East Region South West 877 12.83%
  Starts to date
(01/07/2011 to 03/05/2012) 6,842 100%
 
(b) Current Vacancies/Posts by Region
 
JobBridge, National Internship Scheme – Open Vacancies/Posts as at 03.05.12
 
Region Vacancies Posts
City Centre 258 293
Dublin South 198 239
Fingal 120 127
Midlands 150 180
Mid-West 118 137
North-East 107 119
North-West 65 77
South-East 223 262
South-West 205 253
West 165 189
Total 1,609 1,876
 
 
Q.3      How do you react to the criticism that JobBridge is a Job to Nowhere, with employers just using it as a way of hiring cheap labour?
I don’t accept that criticism.  We got this scheme from announcement to launch in less than eight weeks and facilitated over 6,800 jobseekers commencing internship placements within the first ten months of operation.  The take up has been across all sectors and all company sizes.  In anybody’s book that is a success.
 
Preliminary data from the interns who ended their placements in recent months indicates that some 797 interns, on the immediate completion of their internship, have gone into employment with either their JobBridge Host Organisation or another company. It is important to note that this data does not take account of an intern who may have secured employment in the subsequent weeks or months after completing their internship. 
 
Of course with any scheme there were teething problems, but we are satisfied that the vast majority of internships comply fully with the terms of the scheme.  It would be disappointing if a focus of a few isolated cases was used to detract from the scheme or discourage potential interns.
 
 
Q.4      But what about people who complain that the rules are too rigid and they don’t qualify
It is important to make the point that, within the resources available, the scheme has been put in place to help those who have been on the Live Register for at least three months. It is important to keep those on the Live Register close to the labour market and prevent the drift into long-term unemployment.   There are also other state schemes available and a number of private firms operate internship schemes. 
 
Based on the success of the scheme to date the Minister is delighted to be announcing plans to expand the Scheme from 5,000 to 6,000 available places with immediate effect.  The eligibility criteria to participate on the Scheme will also be widened to include those in receipt of One Parent Family Payments and Disability Allowance.  This will take effect from 28th May 2012.
 
 
Q.5      Why is the Scheme limited to those on the Live Register ?
The overall objective of labour market policy is to ensure a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the Live Register so that as employment opportunities become available they are taken up by those on the Live Register.
 
Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, it is imperative to keep those on the Live Register close to the labour market and prevent the drift into long-term unemployment.  This will ensure that those availing of activation measures such as the National Internship Scheme will gain work experience and so be in a better position to avail of employment opportunities as the economy improves.
 
For these reasons, the eligibility for the scheme is confined to those on the Live Register and in receipt of unemployment payments or signing for credits for 3 months.  In so designing the scheme, the policy objective is to prioritise scarce resources on those on the Live Register so as to increase their chances of leaving it and ensure a reduction in Exchequer costs over time.
 
My Department continues to monitor and review all aspects of this Programme including Eligibility on an ongoing basis.  As a result of this process, the Scheme will be opened up to include those in receipt of One Parent Family Payments and Disability Allowance.  This will take effect from 28th May 2012.
 
 
Q.6      Are you satisfied with the quality of the internships on offer?
The primary focus of JobBridge is to help people on the Live Register to gain experience and improve their skills.  That theme is as relevant to a low skilled person as a graduate.  It would be wrong to be elitist about JobBridge and say that it is only for very highly qualified individuals
 
A variety of measures have been introduced to protect the intern and to ensure the integrity of the JobBridge Scheme.  In order for an application from a Host Organisation to be approved the host organisation must meet a number of criteria. These criteria are to ensure that the internship does not displace an existing position; that it provides appropriate training and development experience; and that appropriate mentoring and support is provided to the Intern. 
 
Additionally in order for an internship to commence a Standard Agreement must be signed and agreed to by both the Intern and the Host Organisation.  This Agreement clearly states the terms of the internship; including the expected working hours, which can range from 30 – 40 hours (maximum) per week and the specific learning outcomes the intern will gain over the course of their internship.
 
To ensure that both the host organisation and intern are abiding by the spirit and the rules of the scheme, my Department are involved in the continuous monitoring of internships.  This involves the regular review of monthly compliance reports and the conducting of random monitoring site visits to facilitate discussions with both parties to the Internship.
 
It is worth noting that participation in the Scheme is voluntary and an intern may contact the JobBridge Team at any stage of their Internship for advice and support.  Consequently, any individual, who suspects that an internship may be in breach of the scheme’s criteria, including cases of suspected displacement and quality, may contact the JobBridge team.  All such matters are fully investigated.
 
 
Q.7      Why are there low skilled positions advertised on the JobBridge website?
The JobBridge scheme is open to all individuals irrespective of their skill levels. Low skilled individuals have a right to access an activation measure that is specifically designed to improve their skills, enhance their experience and improve their chances of securing employment in the future.
 
There are internship opportunities currently available for individuals who may be low skilled. However, these are only approved if they can show that the intern will receive a broad and practical work experience that will involve significant learning outcomes for the intern.   My Department continually monitors the opportunities that are advertised on the JobBridge website. To date the Department has removed over 200 opportunities as they were deemed not to meet the quality requirements
 
It should be noted that a significant number of applications are refused initially by the JobBridge team as they are deemed not to meet the quality requirements.
 
 
Q.8      Are you satisfied with the number of people moving from JobBridge into employment?
Progression rates into employment will be addressed more comprehensively in the  independent evaluation of the Scheme which is being undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
 
Preliminary data from the interns who ended their placements in recent months indicates that 797 interns, on the immediate completion of their internship, have gone into employment with either their JobBridge Host Organisation or another company, It is important to note that this data does not take account of an intern who may have secured employment in the subsequent weeks or months after completing their internship. 
 
Studies indicate this is very much on a par with internships in European countries but I think we should wait a few more months before we look again at the post internship employment record.
 
From 1 January 2012, companies employing interns may avail of the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme which exempts employers from liability to pay their share of PRSI for certain employees.  This will provide an additional boost to JobBridge.
 
 
Q.9      With 450,000 people unemployed, surely we need a lot more than a scheme with just 5,000 places on it.
Of course, JobBridge is not the panacea to the problem of unemployment.  But it is an important initiative and has the potential to be transformative for those who take up the opportunity.  The feedback to date from both interns and host organisations has been very positive and for these reasons, I am increasing the number of available places from 5,000 to 6,000 with immediate effect.
 
The Government have also made major announcements on policies like the Pathways to Work and the Action Plan on Jobs which are designed to tackle underlying issues.

“We have been working hard to ensure that people know the Treaty is about the euro in their pocket and about putting our currency on a long term stable footing. When people are advocating a no vote they are asking people to take a leap in the dark which will put this country back into the eye of the political and economic storm.

“I welcome the election last weekend of our Party of European Socialists’ colleague Francois Hollande. This victory for Hollande will hopefully result in the development of a growth agenda in the Eurozone. In order for us to get out of this crisis, economic growth is necessary and we welcome any developments or commitments that President elect Hollande may secure in this regard. In particular, we will strongly support President Hollande’s proposals to increase the funding of the EIB for investment in public infrastructure.

“The Stability Treaty will put in place good housekeeping rules to reduce our debt over time by reinforcing rules already in place. The Treaty is about having an insurance policy and making sure we have access, if needed, to the €700 billion ESM funding that allows us to fund public services and all Government spending. As our social democratic colleagues in the Nordic countries have shown, such fiscal discipline is not an obstacle to productive investment, strong systems of social protection and spending on training and job-readiness for workers. It is also about making sure the grave mistakes made in the past are not made again so that we can build a sustainable, fair and people-focused economy here in Ireland.

“The Labour Party campaign will see 20k posters distributed throughout the country. Already we have distributed 250k introductory leaflets and we’re printing 650k of our new leaflet which will then go to branches all over the country as part of their local campaign. Just this weekend, the Party Leader Eamon Gilmore, MEPS, TDs, Senators, Cllrs and party members were knocking doors all weekend gathering support for the Treaty. At constituency and local level our representatives are working to ensure that literature is dropped into every door, that every house is canvassed and that the Yes campaign has a visible and vocal presence throughout the country.”

Welcoming the increase Minister Burton said: “While the Live Register figures are still too high, the Department of Social Protection is engaging with jobseekers in order to support them and their families in progressing into employment. One of the key concepts in Pathways to Work is the relationship between the jobseeker and the Department. In accepting payment of benefit and support, the jobseeker shall agree to avail of the appropriate support measures offered during the course of the activation process, whether this is employment, education, training or placement in employment schemes”

Two schemes administered by the Department of Social Protection contribute significantly to the increase. JobBridge, the national internship scheme has only been in operation since July 2011 but already over 6,800 have availed of internships to date with 4,690 on the programme currently. There are currently a further 1,931 internships advertised on the JobBridge website www.jobbridge.ie

Tús is a community work placement initiative aimed at providing up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús began operations in July 2011 and expects to have all 5,000 work placements filled in the coming months. The initiative is being delivered through the network of 52 Local Development Companies nationally and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas and there are currently nearly 4,000 people availing of the scheme.

Minister Burton concluded: “It is also significant that there were 88,442 casual and part-time workers on the Live Register in April representing over 20% of the total Live Register. This reflects the changing work patterns which are more the norm in Ireland in recent times”

Commenting on this development, Minister Burton said: “I would like to commend Senator Bacik on her initiative in bringing this Bill before the Seanad. The key impact of the Bill, which seeks to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, will be to allow members of non-religious bodies, such as members of the Humanist Association of Ireland, to be entitled to perform legal civil marriages. My officials have been working with the Senator to bring this to fruition.”

The Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides for a register of solemnisers, who may be either registrars employed by the HSE or members of religious bodies, who are authorised under law to solemnise marriages in the State. This Bill seeks to introduce a third category of solemniser – a solemniser who is neither a registrar employed by the HSE or a member of a religious bodyIt is proposed that the Bill will amend the definitions contained in section 45 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 to provide for applications from philosophical and non-confessional bodies, provided they fulfil certain criteria.

These criteria are:-

(a) that the body in question has been performing marriage ceremonies for at least five years;

(b) at least twenty couples have participated in marriage ceremonies;

(c) these marriage have been solemnised and registered in the State register;

(d) at least one of these marriages has been registered at least five years before the date of the application to the Registrar General.

In order to progress the Bill, it must be passed by the Seanad and it can then by sponsored by Minister Burton in the Dáil. At that stage, the Bill will be submitted to Government for approval to proceed and it will be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in the usual manner.

Minister Burton concluded by saying: “The proposal to include members of non-religious bodies in the register of solemnisers is one I support and I am delighted to have obtained the support of my colleagues in Cabinet for the proposal today”.

Note: A list of bodies who are currently authorised under law to solemnise marriages in the State follows.

Register of bodies authorised to solemnise marriages include the following (this list is also available at

www.groireland.ie

7th Day Adventist Church

Abundant Grace Christian Assembly

Abundant Life Christian Centre

Amish Mennonite Community Ltd

Arann Reformed Baptist Church

Armenian Orthodox Church

Assemblies of God Ireland

Association of Independent Christian Churches

Baha’i Community

Bantry Christian Fellowship

Baptist Church

Blanchardstown Baptist Church

Bridgetown Gospel Hall

Buddhist

Calvary Chapel Cork

Calvary Church Wexford

Calvary Ireland

Carlow Bible Church

Chinese Gospel Church

Christ Healing Evangelical Church

Christian Brethren

Church of Ireland

Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints

Congregational Union of Ireland

Cootehill Christian Fellowships

Cornerstone Christian Church

Donnybrook Church

Donnybrook Pentecostal Church

Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church

Elim Ministries

Ennis Evangelical Church

Free Presbyterian Church

Gorey Christian Assembly

Grace Christian Fellowship

 Grace Fellowship

 Great Hope Gospel Ministries

Greek Orthodox Church

Healing Streams Christian Renewal Centre

The Redeemed Christian Church of God

Hillside Evangelical Church

Hope and Glory Christian Ministries

Islamic Community

JC of LDS

Jehovahs Witnesses

Jewish Community

Kingdom Dominion Christian Church Limited

Knocklyon Church of Christ

Lifegate Bible Baptist Church

Life Renewal Ministries International

Listowel Christian Fellowship

Lurganearly Hall

Lutheran Church

Mallow Street Christian Fellowship

Methodist Church

Monaghan Gospel Hall

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Mountain View Community Church

Mullingar Christian Fellowship

Nazarene Community Church

Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church

Newcastle West Bible Fellowship

New Life International Ministries

North Down Christian Fellowship Church

Oratory Society

Order of Marian Apostles

Pagan Federation Ireland

Plumbline Ministries

Presbyterian Church

Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland

Religious Society Of Friends

Riverside Gospel Hall

Roman Catholic Church

Romanian Orthodox Church

Shanganagh Bible Church (Plymouth Brethren)

Society of St Pius X

Solid Rock Church of God

Soul Winning Pentecostal Ministries

South City Church

South Hill Evangelical Church

Spiritualist Union of Ireland

The Association of Independent Christian Churches

The Bride Christian Fellowship

The First Six Principle Baptist Church of Ireland

The Gospel Hall Skibbereen

The Lighthouse Baptist Church

The Oratory Society

The Redeemed Christian Church of God

The Redeemed Church of God

The Salvation Army

The Society of St. Pius X

Tower of Power International Ministries

Tralee Christian Fellowship Church

Tramore Bible Church

Transfiguration Christian Centre

Trinity Church Network

Unitarian Church

Victory Christian Church

Victory Outreach Church

Word of Victory Church

World Outreach Christian Centre

In the current economic climate it is important that all avenues are explored to gain entry to the world of work. The traditional approaches are not sufficient for everyone and there is, and will always be, a need for outlets such as the Community Training Centres to cater for learners who need a different approach. The priority focus of the Community Training Centres is on those aged between 16 and 21 who have finished their schooling without any qualification or wish to supplement or improve their Junior Certificate results.

Here in Blanchardstown the need for such an approach has been well documented and I congratulate the community and organisations in Dublin 15 who have fought so hard to get this excellent Community Training Centre up and running. It is a credit to your initiative and hard work that today we are presenting awards to the first group to benefit from the programme.

The Training Centre opened its doors for the first time in 2010 and since then over 100 learners have started courses here. Some have already progressed to work, and others to further training and education. It is unfortunate that a number of others have left their courses early, without benefiting fully from the range of learning supports available.

Currently there are over 40 learners participating in the courses here in areas such as IT/Office Skills, Sports and Health, Catering and Digital Media. All are following courses to FETAC level standards and certification.

I encourage each of you participating in these courses to do your best and gain the ability to turn your efforts into either employment or further education or training. You have good role models in those we are awarding FETAC certificates to today. Like you they participated in the courses here and have benefitted from the excellent instruction they received. The certificates they are receiving are part of the keys to future employment and I hope that similar presentations in the future will feature each of you as recipients.

To your families who are here I congratulate you on encouraging these young people to “stay with the programme” and I hope that the benefits will be clear in times to come as our economy picks up again.

To the manager Anna and her staff I say well done! Your work is paying off great benefits for these young people and I don’t need to urge you to keep up the good work.

I want also to thank the Board of Management of the Centre who are voluntary and give of their time to help in the running of this vital asset in our community. I appreciate your contribution and it is indicative of the community and business spirit that will help all of us to turn around our country.

BLANCHARDSTOWN COMMUNITY TRAINING CENTRE (BCTC)

Blanchardstown CTC was established in 2010 following a number of years of active negotiations with FÁS.

Blanchardstown CTC provides Vocational Preparation and Life Skills Training to meet the needs of Early School Leavers and local young people. This supports them to meet their full potential. The programme gives the opportunity to learn new skills and acquire the knowledge and experience necessary for progression into employment, further training or continued education. It aims to provide integrated advice, guidance and access to personal development opportunities so helping young people make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life.

The programme is delivered through 100% funding from FÁS, and the service is managed by a manager and a team of qualified professional instructors overseen by a separate voluntary Board of Management.

Blanchardstown CTC is a registered company limited by guarantee. The Voluntary Board of Management is made up from the local community, service users and statutory sector. The Board is responsible for the management and delivery of the service through, a manager who has day-to-day responsibility, and a team of staff who delivers courses and support running the centre. The staffing is made up of 4 full time Instructors, 1 Clerical Officer and 1 manager.

BCTC is a registered charity (CHY number: 20000) and is a not-for-profit organisation.

BCTC is funded to provide up to 45 learning places to Early School Leavers and local disadvantaged young people in the Dublin 15 area

The Minister noted that her Department plays a critical role in addressing child poverty through family and child income supports, as well as training, education and employment supports for parents.

She said: “The Department will spend over €3 billion on supports to families and children through payments such as the Child Benefit scheme, Family Income Supplement, qualified child increases on weekly social welfare payments and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.”

The report, published by the Department and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), finds that over a quarter of children aged 2 to 15 are experiencing deprivation. It also shows that parents are diverting household resources to protect children.

The Minister said: “The data relates to 2009 when the previous government was in power. But I remain concerned with the findings that children still have a higher poverty risk than adults and that these children are more likely to be in low income and jobless households. Poverty is especially detrimental for children due to its long-term effects that persist into adulthood. Addressing these issues is therefore a Government priority.”

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, who delivered the closing address at the conference said: “Child poverty remains a gut-wrenching reality in 21st century Ireland. The rate of poverty and deprivation for children is higher than among adults. So, when this Government sets it sights on lifting people out of chronic poverty, it is clear that the heaviest lifting will be required when it comes to addressing child poverty. But tackling deprivation, lifting children out of poverty, will require the mobilisation of a range of stakeholders and a whole of government response, one which my Department will be actively involved in, particularly through the provision of quality early years interventions and effective child welfare & family support services.”

Dorothy Watson, one of the authors of the report Understanding Childhood Deprivation in Ireland, said: “We knew already that children were at a higher risk of poverty than adults. Now we have a better understanding that a range of factors are important in enabling parents to protect their children. An adequate income is clearly the basic requirement. Beyond this, mother’s education, employment – especially of the mother – and family stability are also important.”

Minister Burton concluded: “The report supports international and national evidence that addressing poverty requires a multi-dimensional long-term strategy that cuts across many policy domains. I look forward to working with colleagues across Government, to not only address child poverty but also promote the longer-term well-being of children and improve children’s life chances.” 

Minister Burton was being ‘shadowed’ at the conference by James Devlin as part of National Job Shadow Day. The Job Shadow Initiative, which is organised by the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) gives people with disabilities the opportunity to Job Shadow in a job of their interest and gain a greater understanding of what is involved in that particular area of work. They also learn about the skills required and employers’ expectations from employees in the work place.

In relation to Job Shadow Day, Minister Burton said: “I am delighted to be participating with James in National Job Shadow Day again this year. Today, hundreds of people with disabilities throughout Ireland will have the opportunity to shadow a workplace employee as they go through a normal working day in hundreds of employment locations across the country. A core belief of the IASE is that people with disabilities including those with significant disabilities should have equal opportunity to have a job. This is a belief which I share and support.”

Notes

The Minister was speaking at the conference ‘From Child Poverty to Child Well-being: Lessons from Research and Policy’, taking place today, Thursday 26th April 2012. It is organised by the Department of Social Protection and the Economic and Social Research Institute, in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Children’s Research Centre, TCD.

The report is part of the Department of Social Protection’s research programme on monitoring poverty trends and providing analysis and evidence to inform policy. It is produced by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The authors are Dorothy Watson and Betrand Maître (ESRI) and Christopher T. Whelan (UCD). The report can be downloaded from ^{www.socialinclusion.ie or from www.esri.ie .}

The new Classrooms along with the Learning and Resource Rooms, come in addition to the recent announcement by the Department of Education of a major 5 year national schools building programme. Which saw a number of Dublin 15 Schools benefit from what will be largest planned construction program undertaken by the Department of Education .

The new school facilities at St Francis Xavier Junior National School Roselawn, form part of the commitment within the Programme for Government to reduce the reliance on rented prefabs in schools. The state of the art facilities will be completed by December of this year and will also provide a boost to much needed local jobs in the construction industry.