Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
456. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she expects job creation over the next three years to focus on the job requirements of youth unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23286/16]
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. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting 200,000 additional at work by 2020, with 135,000 of these new jobs outside Dublin. Unemployment has declined significantly from its peak of 15.1% in 2012 to 7.8% in June 2016. Youth unemployment is also declining. In June 2016, the rate of youth unemployment was 15%, down from 20.8% in 2015. My Department is leading on the securing the effective implementation of the Regional Action Plans for Jobs to ensure that job opportunities and for all cohorts, including youth unemployed, are available.
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. In particular I see the expansion of apprenticeships and traineeships as an effective route to sustainable and rewarding employment for many.
In 2015 the Minister for Education and Skills, announced the development of 25 new Apprenticeships. These cover a wide range of sectors such as manufacturing and engineering, tourism and sport, financial services, information technology, transport distribution and logistics, and business administration and management. A number of these will be enrolling by the end of the 2016 and the remainder in 2017. Overall the Programme for a partnership Government commits to double the number of apprenticeships to 31,000 places by 2020 and significantly increasing the number of traineeship places.
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.
