Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
288. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the implementation of the youth guarantee in 2016 and 2017; the number of beneficiaries in all schemes or programmes in each year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13452/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment 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 the Pathways to Work Strategy 2016-2020, 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 increasing youth employment and reducing youth unemployment.
The number of young people in jobs rose from 197,000 on average in 2012 to 235,000 in 2017.
Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 12.6% in February 2018 and now lies significantly below the EU average (16.1%). Ireland is on course to bring youth unemployment below 12% in accordance with Pathways to Work targets for 2020.
The long-term unemployment rate for young people has fallen from over 15% at peak to below 3% in the fourth quarter of 2017.
These trends indicate that together with improvements in the labour market and economic recovery, our approach to youth employment, which focuses in the first instance on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to find and secure sustainable jobs, has been relatively successful.
Many of the elements of a Youth Guarantee were already in place in Ireland prior to the EU Recommendation, so the implementation of the Irish Youth Guarantee focuses on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to secure sustainable jobs. Under the Youth Guarantee process case officers engage with unemployed young people, on a monthly basis, to prepare and implement personal progression plans for employment. Where young people do not find work quickly, additional supports are offered through places on employment and training schemes, which are closely aligned to the needs of the labour market.
For those who do not find employment, through the process just described, additional offers are provided for. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes/workplace based interventions such as CE, Gateway and Tús and First Steps; or in subsidies to employers, through JobsPlus Youth. Long-term unemployed jobseekers under-25 are also referred to JobPath, a contracted, payment-by-results employment services that provides additional resources and supports to the long-term unemployed.
The table displays the number of new participants (aged 18-24) in programmes identified in the Youth Guarantee Implementation plan, for the period 2014-2016. Figures for 2017 are not yet finalised.
|
Programme |
Number of new participants |
||
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
Youthreach/ Community Training Centres |
3,553 |
3,266 |
3,216 |
|
FET for unemployed people |
|||
|
Momentum |
732 |
1,056 |
122 |
|
BTEA (excl. Momentum) |
3,545 |
2,416 |
2,158 |
|
VTOS |
957 |
827 |
843 |
|
SOLAS (Former FÁS) training for unemployed |
8,659 |
7,152 |
5,875 |
|
13,893 |
11,451 |
8,998 |
|
|
Work Experience |
|||
|
JobBridge |
3,144 |
2,294 |
928* |
|
International Work Experience and Training |
0 |
8 |
9 |
|
3,144 |
2,302 |
937 |
|
|
Temporary employment |
|||
|
Tús |
1,410 |
1,388 |
1,280 |
|
Gateway |
195 |
142 |
6 |
|
Community Employment |
612 |
726 |
855 |
|
2,217 |
2,256 |
2,141 |
|
|
Subsidised private-sector employment |
|||
|
BTWEA (self-employment) |
188 |
134 |
123 |
|
JobsPlus, including JobsPlus Youth (employee jobs) |
608 |
710 |
732 |
|
796 |
844 |
855 |
|
|
23,603 |
20,119 |
16,147 |
|
|
*JobBridge scheme ceased in mid-2016. |
In addition to this range of opportunities, later this year I will introduce a new work experience programme targeted specifically at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment. The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide young jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. Operational details are currently being finalised and I hope to launch the scheme in Quarter 2, 2018.
I am confident that the measures taken under the Youth Guarantee, together with the continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in youth unemployment.
