Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 4

Written Answers. - Youth Unemployment.

Joe Walsh

Question:

112 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the recent National Economic and Social Forum report entitled Early School Leavers and Youth Employment, where one of the findings was that the unemployment rate for those people aged between 15 and 24, with no education qualifications was around 46 per cent in 1995; and if he will make a statement on the measures, if any, he intends to take to address this particular problem. [3283/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I am very much aware of the difficulties experienced by unqualified early school leavers in finding employment, which were highlighted in the NESF report "Early School Leavers and Youth Employment." An interdepartmental committee is being established to develop a framework with explicit targets to address the issue of early school leaving. The group will be required to submit its final report to Government by the end of May 1997.

A fundamental objective in the White Paper: Charting our Education Future is to increase retention rates in education to completion of senior cycle to 90 per cent by the end of the decade. Progress in the achievement of this target is being made, and rates of retention have increased from 70 per cent in 1986 to 82 per cent in 93/94.

My Department has a range of strategies in place to help prevent early school leaving. These include the development of Early Start centres; the allocation of additional resources to schools in disadvantaged areas; the new breaking the cycle initiative; the home/school community liaison scheme; curricular reforms to allow students to make choices relevant to their abilities and aptitudes; improvements in the quality of teaching and certification systems; the expansion of psychological and guidance services; support for junior and senior centres for travellers; the free book scheme, and alleviation of examination fees, for necessitous pupils; and the development of second chance education and training options through Youthreach and the vocational training opportunities scheme.

My Department provided 2,000 Youthreach places in the vocational education committee sector for unqualified early school leavers in 1996 and a further 1,500 places approximately were provided by FÁS on this programme. An additional 450 Youthreach places in the vocational education committee sector are now being put in place. This will bring the combined provision under the programme to 3,950 places. Youthreach is targeted at young people in the 15 to 18 year age group who have left school with no qualifications. The vocational training opportunities scheme, which provides education and training for unemployed adults has also been expanded to 5,000 places.