Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
381 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures, other than JobBridge, springboard and the labour market activation fund that she has taken to tackle youth unemployment over the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20505/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe targets detailed in Pathways to Work seek to ensure that those who are unemployed for more than twelve months will have access to supports that enable them to return to active employment. The objective is to ensure that those who become unemployed during the course of this plan receive the advice and support necessary to help them secure an early return to employment. Whilst there will be a particular focus on the long-term unemployed the Department of Social Protection will engage with each person who becomes unemployed in the future with a view to reducing the average time spent on the Live Register from 21 months today to less than 12 months by the end of 2015.
Given limited public resources activation measures will be targeted at those groups who are most at risk of long-term unemployment as well as those who would benefit most from interventions. The development of the Probability of Exit (PEX) profiling model by the Department of Social Protection in conjunction with the ESRI will facilitate the targeted focusing of resources. The Department of Education and Skills will provide in excess of 450,000 training and education places in 2012. These places together with the circa 85,000 job placement and work experience places provided by my Department include provision for school leavers and self-referred clients. At a time of reduced resources these places represent a real commitment to ensuring that all those who are unemployed are given every support to return to employment.
