Advertisements for ‘classroom assistant’ posts under Jobbridge are to be stopped after IMPACT raised concerns that they breached the work experience scheme’s guidelines. The union contacted the Department of Social Protection after a number of members claimed the posts were, in reality, being used to replace special needs assistant posts.

IMPACT official Dessie Robinson told the department there was no such post as ‘classroom assistant’ and said it was, therefore, impossible to train Jobbridge participants for the role. The education department agreed.