A Look Back: The End of Ireland’s JobBridge Internship Scheme
Published
The JobBridge scheme, a national internship programme in Ireland, was designed to help unemployed people gain valuable work experience. Introduced during a time of economic difficulty, the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between social welfare and the professional workplace.
Under the scheme, individuals who were receiving social welfare payments could take on an internship with a participating company. In addition to their regular welfare benefits, participants received an extra €50 per week. The goal was to provide job seekers with new skills and professional contacts to help them secure permanent employment.
While the programme was intended to support job seekers, it faced significant public debate during its operation. Critics often raised concerns about the quality of the internships and the potential for companies to use the scheme as a source of free or low-cost labour rather than as a genuine training opportunity.
Following these discussions and changes in the national economic landscape, the government eventually decided to close the JobBridge scheme. It was replaced by other employment activation programmes designed to better support people in finding long-term work.
Today, the history of JobBridge serves as a reminder of Ireland's efforts to address unemployment. The archives of the programme remain a point of interest for those studying the history of Irish labour policies and the evolution of social welfare support.
Sources: RTE.ie
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