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Youth Unemployment Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 April 2014

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Questions (315)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects emphasis to be placed on efforts to reduce the numbers on the live register in the current year with particular reference to youth and long-term unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18085/14]

View answer

Written answers

In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to reduce unemployment (including long-term and youth unemployment) is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. This strategy is working. Employment rose by 61,000 during 2013, which represents a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. The unemployment rate has fallen to 11.8% – the lowest rate in 5 years – and is down from a peak of just over 15% in 2011.

Long term unemployment has fallen from 196,000 at the end of 2011 to 155,000 at the end of 2013, a decline of over 40,000 in less than two years. As a result the long-term unemployment rate had fallen to 7.2% down from a peak of over 9%. Similarly, youth unemployment has also fallen, from 67,700 at the end of 2011 to 48,800 at the end of 2013. As a result the youth unemployment rate had fallen to 24% down from a peak of 33%.

Nevertheless, despite the progress that has been made, the Government recognises that the both youth unemployment and long-term unemployment remain unacceptably high. Hence, the Government also recognises the need for additional activation measures in the interim while the economy recovers. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee, both of which are being led by my Department.

Pathways set a target of moving 75,000 of the 180,800 people who were on the Live Register for over a year (long-term unemployed) at the beginning of 2012, into employment by the end of 2015. By the end of February this year, over 45,000 of this group had already moved into employment, 13,000 of whom had taken up part-time employment.

Pathways to Work includes a wide range of programmes and services to help jobseekers back to employment. There follows a table which sets out the level of provision on programmes for 2014, indicating also which programmes are particularly targeted at the long-term unemployed. These include programmes such as JobsBridge, JobsPlus and Momentum introduced by this Government and schemes such as Community Employment and Tús where we have significantly increased the number of places available.

In summary, Pathways to Work sets out a strategy for the full roll-out of a radically reformed public employment service by 2015. The Government is currently on target to meet this goal.

The implementation of the Youth Guarantee is a medium-term policy of the Irish Government. 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.

During 2014 – 2015 all long-term unemployed young people under 25 will be engaged by the Public Employment Service and will receive a Youth Guarantee offer if still unemployed after four months of this engagement process commencing.

A breakdown of likely activation places available for 2014 is presented in the following table. The programmes where being long-term unemployed is an eligibility requirement are indicated, as well the expected inflow of young people.

Expected participation, activation programmes, 2014

Programme

Average participation

Expected inflow of young people

Inflow of new participants

Aimed at Long Term Unemployed ?

Youthreach/CTC

6,000

3,300

3,300

-

JobBridge (including planned reserve)

7,700

5,000

13,300

-

Tús

7,500

1,000

7,500

Yes

JobsPlus

4,000

1,500

2,000

Yes

Momentum

6,500

2,000

6,500

Yes

BTEA (excl Momentum)

18,500

3,300

9,300

-

BTWEA

11,000

200

5,500

Yes

VTOS

5,600

500

2,800

FÁS/Solas

10,300

9,500

25,000

40% target

CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports

-

700

700

-

CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people

-

150

150

-

International Work Experience and Training

250

250

250

-

Gateway

3,000

450

3,000

Yes

Community Employment

25,300

500

12,700

Yes

Total

105,650

28,350

92,000

-

PLCs

Apprenticeship

35,000

8,000

22,000

2,000

32,000

2,500

-

Vocational Third Level

-

-

-

It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations

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