Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
112. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if in view of the Government's commitment to the youth guarantee implementation plan, she will consider putting a pilot programme in place for County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11183/14]
View answerThe Youth Guarantee will be run on a national basis. The Ballymun Pilot is being mainly funded by the European Commission. Such specific funding for other pilot programmes is not available. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Department will operate a specific scheme for each of its 60+ local offices. However there will be flexibility to tailor the implementation to local conditions (for example with regard to the cohorts of young people to be selected for engagement in the first instance etc.) and the specific approach to be followed in each area will be a matter for local DSP management in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is intended that the approach in other areas will however benefit from the lessons learned during the Ballymun pilot. In particular, it is intended, that local employment initiatives will be driven by local employer groups, local DSP/Intreo staff, local community groups and local training providers working collaboratively, as in Ballymun, to tailor the approach to their local circumstances.
