Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2016
210. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement with the young persons concerned in taking available training places across the further education and training sector in view of figures supplied in respect of unemployed young persons between 18 and 24 years of age in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32687/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the right environment for a strong economic recovery through effective policies. In doing so it is hoped to promote competitiveness and productivity.
The success of this approach has been reflected in strong growth in the economy since 2012, accompanied by rising employment and falling unemployment.
In the particular instance of young people in Dublin, the number of such young people on the Live Register has fallen from 17,800 in September 2012 to 10,900 in September 2015 and 8,200 in September 2016.
Although the labour market situation is improving considerably as the recovery continues, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate the young unemployed back into work. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy (published January 2016) and the Youth Guarantee plan (published January 2014). Pathways to Work 2016-2020 continues to prioritise YGIP measures for the young unemployed and additionally commits to: increasing the share of workplace based interventions for youth unemployed; ensuring that monthly engagement, at a minimum, is consistently applied and maintained; restructuring the First Steps programme; and implementing the Defence Forces Skills for Life programme.
The key objective under the Youth Guarantee is to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. In this regard there is monthly engagement with young people by case officers to assist young people to prepare, review and, if appropriate, revise personal progression plans. As part of this process additional supports may be provided, both through reserved places on existing schemes and through youth-specific measures. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tús. Overall, over 19,100 opportunities were taken up on the relevant programmes in 2015.
Where a need for a further education or training course is identified in the course of a face to face meeting with the Case Officer, a young jobseeker can be nominated for these courses through the Department of Social Protection and SOLAS IT systems.
I am satisfied these measures will help to address youth unemployment and that the engagement process with young persons in relation to taking available training places across the further and education and training sector is appropriate.
