Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2016
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if job creation will focus on youth employment over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16316/16]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government's key instruments to support job creation. Since the launch of the first Plan in 2012, 155,000 more people are in employment. This surpasses the original target to have an extra 100,000 at work by the end of 2016.
Unemployment has declined significantly from its peak of 15.1% in 2012 to 7.8% in May 2016. Youth unemployment is also declining. In May 2016, the rate of youth unemployment was 15%, down from 20.8% in 2015.
We will continue to work with colleagues across Government to develop initiatives to help our young people to meet their full potential in a fast-changing world. The Action Plan for Jobs complements Pathways to Work, developed by the Department of Social Protection, which sets out specific measures for young people, under the Youth Guarantee and Youth Activation Charter, to help them access the labour market and new job opportunities. We will provide a diverse range of choices on leaving secondary education, which is regarded as a key success factor in countries with low levels of youth unemployment. The Programme for Government commits to double the number of apprenticeships to 31,000 places by 2020 and significantly increase the number of traineeship places.
We will continue to build on the progress to date through the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work to ensure that more employment opportunities are available to young people who are seeking work.
