Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
520. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress of the implementation of the youth guarantee scheme; the amount pledged to this scheme; the number of participants who have taken part in this scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13533/14]
View answerImplementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. It is envisaged that the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015. The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis.
Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2014, processes and programmes will be progressively rolled out to ensure that all of those young unemployed people who need most support (i.e. are assessed as having a low probability of securing employment in the absence of support from the Public Employment Services) will receive a Youth Guarantee offer within four months.
Additional planned supportive measures are now being developed and implemented: Jobfairs have been initiated in Q 1 2014; Intra-EU Mobility and Language Skills is being designed in Q1 2014 for implementation in Q2 2014; JobBridge for Disadvantaged Youth will be implemented in Q2 2014; The JobPlus variant for Youth Guarantee will be implemented in Q2 2014; Youth Entrepreneurship/CEBs and Microfinance Ireland is being initiated in Q1 2014.
The Youth Guarantee also incorporates many initiatives which are already in place.
Taking existing and planned provision together, the current estimate of programme uptake by young people in 2014 is approximately 28,000, with associated programme costs of €336 million. If all Post-Leaving Certificate course and apprenticeship provision is included, the total programme uptake rises to approximately 52,000, with associated programme costs of €528 million.
The following table displays the total number of under 25s who have started across the various programmes outlined in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan in the first two months of 2014. Over 2,300 young people are known to have started on various programmes since the start of 2014, excluding those programmes for which figures are not available. Where figures are not yet available, this is generally because some programmes, such as the Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) and Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) have intakes in September as per the academic calendar, and therefore figures are not available on a year to date basis. In other cases, programmes have not yet commenced.
Under 25 starters on Youth Guarantee programmes, January/February 2014
|
Programme |
2014 YTD |
Note |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
219 |
Only CTC starters – Youthreach figures not available for 2014 |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
545 |
- |
|
Tus |
3 |
|
|
JobsPlus |
77 |
|
|
Momentum* |
13 |
|
|
BTEA (excl Momentum)** |
Not available |
|
|
BTWEA |
51 |
Including 2 persons on STEA |
|
VTOS |
Not available |
|
|
FAS/Solas |
1166 |
Based on SST, Traineeship & LTI starters YTD |
|
CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports |
- |
Not yet commenced |
|
CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people |
- |
Not yet commenced |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
- |
Not yet commenced |
|
Gateway |
Not available |
|
|
Community Employment |
230 |
- |
|
Total |
2,304 |
Excluding where figures are not available |
