This article is from page 4 of the 2012-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A SHANNON graduate has been told he cannot take part in the muchpublicised Government Internship Scheme because of his disability status.
Padraic Hayes is in receipt of the allowance and therefore according to the rules of the scheme he is not entitled to get the much-needed work experience.
Under the programme, participants must be on job seekers allowance to avail of the support.
“I am getting my qualifications, but at the end of the day you apply for positions and they look for experience, and I am willing to work for the experience but because I can’t apply to get the experience I am stuck,” said the frustrated LIT student.
Padraic already has an honours de- gree in Office Management Systems and completed an ECDL course to make him more employable.
He has returned to college to do a higher diploma and said next year he will do his masters degree if he cannot find work, but he would prefer to find a job.
He has applied for numerous positions and has come close to success on a number of occasions.
In recent weeks he was second in line for a job but lost out to a candidate that had more experience.
The young graduate also registered with the Clare Supported Employment Service.
“I looked into an internship with my job coach but he found out that you had to be on job seekers allowance or job seekers benefit to qualify for an internship,” said Padraic.
Alice O’Carroll, Team Leader with the Clare Supported Employment Service, said she was surprised to discover that Padraic had no access to an internship.
“It is not right to be excluded from anything. He should have that opportunity to prove himself like everyone else,” she said.
“There is a recognition that people with disabilities should be included in the labour force, and I would like to see people with disability having access to internships.”
Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy, a long time advocate for people with disabilities, described the situation as “ridiculous”.
“This is something that has to be sorted out and added to the programme,” he said.
“The Government has to take responsibility for this and I am part of that Government. The issue needs to be addressed,” he added.