The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton will announce five thousand internships today as part of the Government’s new National Internship Scheme.

Under the scheme – which was announced as a key element of the Government’s Jobs Initiative – companies will be encouraged to take on an intern for a period of up to nine months.

The job seeker – who must have been on the live register for three months or more – will receive an additional 50 euro a week on top of their job seeker benefits.