andMr. Burke asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the deep concern and anxiety among parents in relation to employment for their school leaving children; if the Civil Service Commission will increase their intake this year; the plans he has to ensure that all school leavers will get suitable employment, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - School Leavers' Employment.
375.
I would like to assure the Deputies that I am indeed very much aware of the deep concern and anxiety felt by parents at this time of year in relation to the employment prospects of their school-leaving children.
The 1980 civil service recruitment programme is already well under way and assignments made by the Civil Service Commission during the first five months of 1980 totalled 3,748. Comparable figures for the same period in 1979 would not be valid because of the postal dispute but the comparable figure for the same period in 1978 was 2,703. The recruitment programme in 1980 will continue as planned.
Employment opportunities in the public service for young people also exist in the Garda Síochána and the Army and there are current recruitment campaigns for these services.
It is important to see youth as part of the overall labour market and the Government's total job creation efforts for 1980 will substantially benefit young people. The significant measures involved in the Government's job creation package include increased allocations for the Industrial Development Authority, the public capital programme and the creation of the Employment Guarantee Fund which is being jointly financed by the Government and employers' organisations.
In addition, a number of special youth employment schemes introduced by the Government over the past few years to alleviate youth unemployment are continuing in 1980. The success of these schemes may be gauged from the fact that from a participation of about 2,000 young people in 1977 the participation last year rose to over 11,000. It is hoped that the number of young people who will benefit from these schemes during 1980 will at least continue at this level or even increase.
The four main such schemes are—the Environmental Improvements Scheme Programme, the Temporary Grants Scheme for Youth Employment, the Worker Experience Programme and the Community Youth Training Programme. The Environment Improvements Scheme which is implemented by local authorities provides for the employment of unemployed young people under 25 years of ago on work of an environmental, amenity or recreational value to the community. Under the Temporary Grants Scheme administered by the Department of Education, grants are provided to youth and sport organisations towards the cost of the projects aimed at improving local amenities. The Work Experience Programme administered by the National Manpower Service of the Department of Labour is aimed particularly at unemployed school-leavers in the 18 to 20 age group; by placing them with employers in the private and public sectors for a 26 week period these young persons are enabled to gain practical experience over a range of different jobs and this enhances considerably their prospects of suitable permanent employment. Indeed, over 80 per cent of the WEP participants have got permanent jobs more than half of them in the firms with which they were originally placed. The AnCO Community Youth Training Programme provides grants towards employing young people on projects designed to improve existing amenities or provide extra amenities for the community.
The National Manpower Service of my Department provide a service for any person seeking employment and for employers recruiting staff. I would suggest that young persons leaving school this year who are seeking employment, should call to their local office of the National Manpower Service where they will be given advice on careers, employment opportunities and training courses etc.
I should also mention the special programme introduced by the Government this year for the provision of sports and leisure centres throughout the country which will provide both employment and recreational facilities for young people. An allocation in excess of £5 million has been provided for this project.
I have already indicated to the House that I am awaiting a report being prepared by a sub-Committee of the Manpower Consultative Committee on Youth Employment. I understand that this report is being considered at present by the Manpower Consultative Committee and should be available to me shortly. I hope to be in a position to make a statement regarding the recommendations of the Committee in the not too distant future.