Minister Pushes For 'Work Experience' Interns

The Northern Ireland Employment and Learning Minister has said government departments should take on paid interns.

His own department already plans to create a number of graduate internships in the autumn: "I have asked all government departments, written to all ministers, asking them to join with me in creating some internships," he said, yesterday.

"In this department we will create about 10, they will be geographically spread not just Belfast-centred," he continued, noting that "we are also asking the public sector in general to take a bit of the strain because it is a major employer".

Meanwhile, although there are said to be signs of the recession easing, it has already led to a sharp rise in the number of Northern Ireland school-leavers seeking a place in university.

Applications to universities are provisionally up some 7% this year, also according to the NI Employment and Learning Minister.

Sir Reg said it was "a significant increase" given that half of school leavers in Northern Ireland already go to university - more than in the rest of the UK.

It appeared to be a popular option because there are fewer jobs available.

(BMcC)