Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 January 2014
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Youth Employment Initiative
31. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will confirm that the building of youth employment will be a key priority and theme for the action plan for jobs 2014. [2946/14]
View answerI am very much aware that employment opportunities for young people have been seriously impacted by the economic crisis over the last number of years. Our youth unemployment rate, for persons under 25 years of age, reached over 30% in 2012.
The Government has been tackling the issue of youth employment through the combined efforts of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. Through these strategies, the Government has brought in a range of new initiatives such as JobBridge, Springboard, Momentum, JobsPlus, and the ICT Action Plan, to help people to upskill or enter employment. These schemes provide opportunities for all people who are unemployed, including young people.
It is encouraging to see that, as the early signs of an economic recovery begin to emerge, there has been an improvement in the number of young people at work. The youth unemployment rate decreased from 31.1% to 26.5% over the year to the Third Quarter of 2013. However, this rate is still far too high and it is important that we continue on our course to turn the economy around so that we create more job opportunities for all who want to work.
I am currently finalising the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government and I can confirm that it will include a number of measures to support youth employment. For example, my Department, together with Enterprise Ireland, is examining options for initiatives aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship, which could include a range of supports for business start-ups by young people under 25 years of age.
The Action Plan for Jobs will be published shortly, following its approval by the Government.
