Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2021
30. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the next steps with regard to the findings of the Poverty Impact Assessment on jobseeker’s rates for young people; when she intends to lay the document before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57827/21]
View answerThe Poverty Impact Assessment on reduced rates of jobseeker allowance for young jobseekers aged 18-24 years was carried out further to the requirement as set out in Part 2 Section 7 of The Social Welfare (No 2) Act 2019 which requires that it shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
A copy of the report was provided for the attention of the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on 21 July 2021. I also made arrangements for its publication on the Government website at the same time.
In terms of next steps at this time, my Department has introduced a series of targeted measures under the Government’s national employment strategy Pathways to Work, to help young people back into employment or find their first job.
This includes providing 4,000 places on the Work Placement Experience Programme for young jobseekers, 50,000 additional further education and training places and allocating at least 1,000 out of the 3,000 new Community Employment and Tús places for young people.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
