National Internship Scheme

 

The National Internship Scheme is a voluntary scheme which provides work experience opportunities for unemployed people who have been getting a Jobseeker's payment or signing on for credits for at least 3 months. Participants in the scheme will be offered an internship of between 6 and 9 months with a host organisation. If you are selected to take up an internship you will keep your social welfare payment and will get an extra €50 per week.

Qualifying criteria

  • To qualify for a place as an intern you must be currently in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance or signing for Social Insurance Contribution Credits for 3 months or more in the last 6 months.

Start Searching for an Internship

Before you start looking for an internship, think about

  • What area do you wish to gain experience in?
  • What do you want to gain from an internship?
  • What location(s) would you be available to work in?
  • Are you available for 6 or 9 months to complete an internship?

By deciding what you want from an internship before commencing your search, you will be able to select appropriate internships that meet your needs.

  • If you meet the qualifying criteria for this scheme and are interested in an internship you can browse advertisements for various types of internships on the website www.jobbridge.ie

Applying for an Internship position

  • You can then apply to the organisation in the method stated in their advertisement

Please note: Some host organisations may specify that applications for advertised internships should be made through a standard short application form. If this is the stated method for applying on an internship advertisement, please download this form from www.jobbridge.ie

What happens if I am selected as a potential intern?

  • The host organisation will logon and provide your details to FÁS as follows: PPS number, Full Name, Date of Birth and Email and/or Mobile Number. This information is required so that you can be registered on the system in order to make payments during the internship and to correspond to you throughout your participation on the scheme
  • The host organisation will download a Standard Agreement that outlines what will happen during the internship. This must be signed by both you and the host organisation.
  • The host organisation will provide you with an eligibility form which you must bring to your local Social Welfare office
  • Your local Social Welfare office will complete the form to confirm your eligibility. You must then return this form to your local FÁS or LES office or post, fax or email to: JobBridge, National Contact Centre (NCC), IDA Industrial Estate, Carrick Road, Edenderry, Co Offaly. Fax: 046 973 8081 Email: jobbridgeapp@fas.ie
  • The host organisation will be notified that the internship can start and will contact you to confirm your start date

Start your Internship

  • On the day you start, the host organisation must notify FÁS that the internship has started. This enables the Department of Social Protection to process the additional €50 per week internship allowance.
  • Each month, the host organisation will logon and update the system as follows:
  • Confirm your attendance in accordance with the Standard Agreement.
  • Confirm that the internship is being delivered as described by the host organisation, in accordance with the Standard Agreement.

Please note:

  • Failure to make the monthly returns may affect the payment of the internship allowance
  • Failure to attend for the hours stated in the Standard Agreement may affect the payment of the internship allowance

Do I get paid?

  • You will receive an allowance equivalent to your current Social Welfare allowance plus an additional €50 per week for the duration of the internship (internship allowance).
  • The internship allowance will be paid in arrears and it is expected that participants will receive this top-up allowance approximately 2 weeks after commencing on the programme.
  • All payments of the Internship Allowance will be made by the Department of Social Protection via Electronic Fund Transfer into the intern's bank account.

Please note: If you are on Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) with 60 days of the entitlement left on your claim you will still have 60 days of entitlement left when their internship is completed if you resume your JB claim.

Payment

If you are receiving a Jobseeker's Allowance payment and are aged

  • Between 18 - 21, you will receive €100 per week plus the €50 internship allowance
  • Between 22 - 24, you will receive €144 per week plus the €50 internship allowance
  • 25 or over, you will receive €188 per week plus the €50 internship allowance