Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
335. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a list of all programmes run nationwide by the State under the youth guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11950/17]
View answerGovernment policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work, to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, including young people.
To date, these policies have been effective in reducing youth unemployment. The youth unemployment rate has fallen from 31.1% in July 2012 to 14.5% in February 2017. The actual number of young unemployed has fallen from 70,000 to 30,500 over this period. Irish youth unemployment is now significantly below the EU average.
As many of the elements of a Youth Guarantee were already in place in Ireland prior to the EU Recommendation, the implementation of the Irish Youth Guarantee focused on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to find and secure sustainable jobs. To this end there is monthly engagement by case officers with all young unemployed to facilitate their return to employment. For those who do not find employment, additional offers are provided for, on a range of education, training and employment programmes. The main programmes involved over the period 2014-2016 were identified in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, and are summarised in tabular form below.
Table 1: Programmes available to the young unemployed set out in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan
|
Programme |
|
Youthreach/Community Training Centres (aged 15-17) |
|
JobBridge |
|
Tús |
|
JobsPlus (including JobPlus Youth) |
|
Momentum |
|
Back To Education Allowance (excl Momentum) |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
|
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme |
|
SOLAS (Former FAS) training |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
|
Gateway |
|
Community Employment |
|
County Enterprise Board Youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports [superseded by Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE)]* |
* The IBYE is an entrepreneurship support measure aimed at encouraging young people to start their own businesses and accordingly covers a wider age range (from 18-30).
I am confident that the measures taken under the Youth Guarantee, together with the continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in youth unemployment. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact my office.
