Joan Burton sternly defends the JobBridge scheme – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Joan Burton sternly defends the JobBridge scheme




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The Tanaiste has today strongly defended the controversial JobBridge scheme, questioning whether its objectors have ever even had a job outside of the political landscape.

Ms. Burton issued these comments in response to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) survey findings published today. The results of the survey show, among other issues, that 44 per cent thought the scheme was used for free labour.

JobBridge is targeted at people who have been in receipt of jobseeker’s payment for at least three months. Participants receive an extra €50 per week on top of their social welfare entitlement.

After the survey’s results became known, Socialist TD and founder of scambridge.ie Paul Murphy referred to the fact that most people feel “compelled” into taking up the scheme because of threats to their social welfare payments, and that the current level of dissatisfaction with JobBridge “shatters” a key staple of the Government’s strategy for job creation.

The Tanaiste refuted such comments, insisting that there is no compulsion for people to get involved with JobBridge, and described it as a “structured programme of interviewing people, calling people back in” and adding: “The really positive thing is that so many people want to be involved”.

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