Skip to main content
Normal View

Youth Unemployment Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Questions (321)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

321. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the findings in the recent OECD economic survey of Ireland which found that a comprehensive national strategy to tackle the very high unemployment rates among the young is lacking, that youth policy is fragmented, with several Departments taking individual action, and its recommendation that a more co-ordinated and tailored approach to the youth unemployment problem is required; the action she will take on foot of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50412/13]

View answer

Written answers

In order to develop and implement a plan to give effect to the EU recommendation for a Youth Guarantee in Ireland, the Department of Social Protection has set up an interdepartmental Youth Guarantee Implementation Group with officials and programme managers from the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The terms of reference for this group are to review the current range of youth employment services in Ireland, to assess what measures are appropriate to deliver the Youth Guarantee in Ireland and to develop an implementation plan for approval of Government and transmission to the EU before the end of the year.

The Department has retained the OECD to provide input and advice on the framing of the plan; the OECD is also providing assistance to a number of other countries. In particular the OECD has been asked to identify best international practice and how it might best be applied to implementation of the youth guarantee in Ireland. A delegation from the OECD has already met with stakeholders at the aforementioned forum as well as with a range of relevant public bodies. The OECD is due to produce a report with recommendations for the Department by the end of November, the findings of which will feed into the final design of the implementation plan.

Top
Share