Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:
551. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Justice to outline the internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by her Department and public bodies under the aegis of her Department. [35490/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 551 which was for answer on 13 July 2023 and which asked: ‘To ask the Minister for Justice to outline the internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by her Department and public bodies under the aegis of her Department.’
You will recall that at the time, I undertook to seek the information requested and revert to you directly. This information is provided below.
A number of programmes, outlined below, are undertaken by my Department to support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce in a safe and inclusive working environment.
Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme: This is a work placement programme which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace. One WAM graduate completed a work experience placement in January this year and the process for placement of 2023 WAM graduates has commenced. My Department submitted expressions of interest for four graduates to work in areas across my Department under this year’s WAM programme which provides for ten month placements with a route to permanent employment by way of confined competition.
Traveller & Roma Internship programme: My Department, in conjunction with a number of key stakeholders, is leading on the development and implementation of a Traveller and Roma Internship Programme with the purpose of promoting the participation and inclusion of Traveller and Roma communities in Irish society in line with the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (2017 – 2021). The development of this programme was inspired by our commitment to ensuring a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland, where regardless of ethnicity or background, every person is treated and valued equally. The first pilot programme, which provides for twelve month internships, was launched last year and following two confined competitions, internships are underway for seven successful candidates, two of whom are working in my Department.
North East Inner City Transition year (TY) programme: My Department offers work experience to Transition Year students in partnership with the North East Inner City (NEIC) TY Placement Initiative, which focuses on providing students with professional work experience, creating opportunities to bring about lasting positive change in the community. Earlier this year six TY students from schools in the NEIC had the opportunity to learn about the varied work of my Department and gain an insight into the work of various areas including the Border Management Unit, Garda Síochána Inspectorate and Forensic Science Ireland.
Legal internship programme: My Department undertakes a competitive selection process in conjunction with placement officers in five universities to provide an eight month work experience placement for law students. These students from the University of Limerick, University of Galway, University College Cork, Dublin City University and Maynooth University Ireland, have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the civil and criminal policy and legislative areas of my Department. Under the 2022 legal internship programme, eleven law students completed placements and it is planned that fourteen students will undertake placements under the 2023 programme.
ICT Apprenticeship program: My Department is currently facilitating three ICT apprenticeships in collaboration with the Office of Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and SOLAS. My Department is committed to exploring other roles and career pathways which may be suitable for apprenticeship intake.
Accounting Technician Apprenticeship programme: In September 2020 my Department sponsored two members of staff to participate on the Accounting Technician Apprenticeship programme which was operated by the State agency SOLAS. This programme was designed to support participants to pursue a career in business, accountancy and finance through a two-year, work-based learning programme. On successful completion of the programme, participants were awarded a Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Accounting. The two members of staff worked in the Insolvency Service of Ireland four days a week, and attended a study placement with a partnered college one day a week during the academic year. The Department received an annual grant of €2000 per apprentice, paid in arrears in two payments of €1000 per apprentice annually.
Details of internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by the agencies under the aegis of my Department are outlined below.
The Irish Prison Service has employed two staff through the Fast Track into ICT programme. Both are apprentice ICT specialists, the apprenticeship is over a two year period and is both work based in the IPS, and learning based in Technical University Dublin. The IPS has signed a MOU with the provider, in this case Fast Track into ICT (FIT), which clearly outlines the requirements of the employer, including the provision of on the job learning and a work place mentor for the duration of the apprenticeship.
The Courts Service avails of intern university programmes with UL, DCU and TUD. The interns are placed in Court offices countrywide and trained in the work of the office, with the intention of being appointed permanently after graduation through open competitions.
Both the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.
The Garda Commissioner has put a welcome focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland.
An Garda Síochána launched the first Garda Diversity Internship in 2021, which was a first of its kind initiative for An Garda Síochána. The internship aims to increase the accessibility, understanding of, and potential for a career in An Garda Síochána for school-leavers and graduates, particularly those from groups typically underrepresented in the organisation.
An Garda Síochána welcomed its second group of interns on 6th June 2023. The Garda Diversity Internship saw interns take up placements across the country, some in station-based roles and others supporting enabling functions such as ICT and HR. This is an approach that worked well for the pilot and provided greater equality of opportunity for those outside Dublin and for those with an interest in joining the organisation as Garda Staff.
Separately AGS benefits from the Civil Service Graduate programme and is looking at developing a bespoke programme for the organisation.
The Policing Authority ran a Student Internship Placement Programme to create opportunities for third-level students to gain valuable work experience and transferable skills to enhance their employability; provide additional resources to the Authority to assist with both specific projects and the day-to-day work of the Authority; and to contribute to its programme of engagement with stakeholders in third-level education. In November 2022, the Authority also participated in the North East Inner City (NEIC) Initiative’s Work Experience Placement Programme in which two transition year students from Larkin College completed a one week placement.
The Office of the State Pathologist (OSP) is currently running a pilot program for a laboratory intern. One Intern has been appointed through this scheme and is working in the OSP histology laboratory on Griffith Avenue in Dublin. The scheme will run from June 2023 to September 2023. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is currently participating in the DPER ICT Apprenticeship Civil Service programme. Candidates are assigned to and employed by a Civil Service organisation for the duration of the programme, which includes on and off-the-job learning. GSOC employs two apprentices from this programme. The off the job learning element takes place at City of Dublin Education and Training Board.
Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has no formalised internships, apprenticeships or graduate schemes, however, in conjunction with a number of universities, FSI oversees scientific research projects associated with their respective courses.
The Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) had two interns from Maynooth University on an unpaid work placement, as part of their university course. The first of these placements took place in 2021, and since then the OIP have had two interns each year.
The Legal Aid Board offered an Advanced Family Mediation Trainee Programme to train individuals to work in the family mediation area, and to meet the current eligibility criteria to apply for a position as a family mediator in the Legal Aid Board. The two-part programme consisted of Family Mediation Knowledge Based Course; and Substantive and legal knowledge on separation and divorce such as parenting, financial support and property division, pensions, family law and social welfare as it relates to separating couples. It also included process issues such as intake, screening, managing budgetary information and writing family mediation settlement agreements. Nine individuals completed the Board’s Advanced Family Mediation programme in Q2 2023.
The Legal Aid Board offers trainee solicitor positions. The most recent programme offered has had due regard to the streamlined model of learning now offered by the Law Society of Ireland in this area. Successful candidates had their academic fees discharged by the Board and, for the relevant part of the Law Society’s trainee programme, the trainee was facilitated with a Managing Solicitor of the Board to act as a training solicitor.
The Board otherwise supports staff to gain the legal qualifications and the necessary entry criteria to reach the point of being eligible to undertake solicitor training through an academic fees programme and other provisions offered to staff under Circular 23/2007 Post Entry Education – Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave.
The Legal Aid Board has also engaged in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) - a work placement programme which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace.
Further, the Legal Aid Board continues to engage with a number of second and third level providers to put in place programmes to assist school leavers and third level graduates with work experience as they enter their professional careers while having due regard to an strategic objective in its Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023 that its staff should be reflective of the broader community.
Question No. 552 answered with Question No. 549.
