asked the Minister for Labour the total estimated number of school leavers available for work in August 1980; the number who obtained employment between August and December 1980, and the action the Government intend to take to provide work for school leavers.
Written Answers. - Employment of School Leavers.
300.
Approximately 63,000 terminal leavers would have left from all levels of educational system during the 1979-80 school year, with the vast majority leaving during the June-July period this year. An estimated 60,000 of these entered the labour force. It is not yet possible to indicate the number who actually obtained employment up to December this year but the school leavers surveys carried out by the National Manpower Service and reports of the Association of Irish University Careers and Appointments' Services show that the vast majority of school leavers entering the labour market after any particular school year find employment early in the following calendar year.
The Government policies and programmes directed towards providing employment for young people include: general economic and budgetary measures which have, inter alia, the objective of generating employment; grants and incentives provided by development bodies such as the Industrial Development Authority, SFADCO and Údarás na Gaeltachta; the additional job-creation measures being undertaken by the Government under the National Understanding for Economic and Social Development; the provision of employment, training and work experience for school leavers through the Special Youth Employment Schemes, namely, the Work Experience Programme, the Community Youth Training Programme, the Temporary Grants Scheme for Youth Employment and the Environmental Improvement Schemes Programme; the payment of wage subsidies under the Employment Incentive Scheme to encourage employers to recruit unemployed school leavers, and the training, placement and guidance services provided by AnCO and the National Manpower Service for school leavers which enhance their job prospects.
Finally, I might mention two significant developments in relation to the youth employment situation. Firstly at my request the Manpower Consultative Committee undertook an examination of the youth employment situation. The report of a working party of the committee set up for this purpose has just been published. The report makes a number of important recommendations in relation to the youth employment situation which will be given the fullest consideration. Secondly the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have agreed at our request, to carry out a major examination of our youth employment policies next year. Both of these developments should ultimately lead to further improvements in the youth employment situation.