Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
231. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection following the successful introduction of the pilot project in Ballymun of the Youth Guarantee scheme, if there is a timeline in place to establish such a scheme in a rural constituency; the supports that will be put in place to enable young persons to access these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28061/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Youth Guarantee will be run on a national basis. The Ballymun Pilot is being mainly funded by the European Commission. Such specific funding for other pilot programmes is not available. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Department will operate a specific scheme for each of its 60+ local offices. However there will be flexibility to tailor the implementation to local conditions (for example with regard to the cohorts of young people to be selected for engagement in the first instance etc.) and the specific approach to be followed in each area, be it rural or local, will be a matter for local DSP management in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is intended that the approach in other areas will however benefit from the lessons learned during the Ballymun pilot. In particular, it is intended, that local employment initiatives will be driven by local employer groups, local DSP/Intreo staff, local community groups and local training providers working collaboratively, as in Ballymun, to tailor the approach to their local circumstances.
