The new Youth Employability Initiative, which is funded under the Dormant Accounts Scheme, will target those young people aged 15 to 24 years who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. Under the Initiative, €600,000 will be provided to the voluntary youth services, to support the provision of innovative programmes for these young people to enhance their employability skills and competencies.
The Youth Employability Initiative was launched on 8th October 2015. Some 56 applications were received. Processing has now been finalised. I hope to announce details of the successful applicants in the coming weeks.