Workplace and training programmes are proving to be popular in Westmeath with a total of 377 people in workplace and training programmes across the county.
The statistics are in relation to the number of applications for JobBridge, Springboard, and those taking part in Tús programmes.
To date, 142 participants and five supervisors/team leaders have completed or are currently serving in work placements provided by community organisations across Westmeath. As of February 8, 87 participants and five supervisors/team leaders were actively engaged on Tús, while 138 people with an address in Westmeath enrolled on Springboard 2011 and Springboard 2012 courses, according to Deputy McFadden who sought the information during Parliamentary Questions recently.
Springboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses are delivered in public, private, and not-for-profit higher education providers around the country. Many Springboard courses are delivered on line, enabling people to access them regardless of where they reside in the country.
Tús is a community work placement initiative which became operational in 2011 and provides part-time work opportunities for those aged 18 and over, who are unemployed for more than a year. The purpose of Tús is the provision of quality work for those who are unemployed in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities to returning to the labour market.
The National Internship Scheme, JobBridge, was launched in 2011 to provide work experience placements for interns for a six or nine month period. The aim of the scheme is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. Applicants must be currently in receipt of, as their main payment, jobseekers benefit, jobseekers allowance, jobseekers credits, one parent family payment or disability allowance and have as of February 8, 121 participants were actively engaged on JobBridge.
