Update: Youth Unemployment 16th July 2014

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the issue of youth unemployment continues to be tackled by her Department; if she has discussions with other relevant Departments in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Bernard J. Durkan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 15th July, 2014.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D):

It is proposed to Questions 406 & 416 together

The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was published in January.

It provides for the introduction of earlier and more intensive engagement by INTREO with the young unemployed. It also provides for over 28,000 programme opportunities for unemployed young people in 2014, as set out in the table attached as an appendix to this statement. This figure excludes some 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships. These PLC and apprenticeship places, together with the wide range of vocational third-level courses provided for the young, although not reserved for unemployed jobseekers, nevertheless contribute to the spirit of the guarantee.

In relation to the 28,500 places for unemployed young people, approximately 6,800 of these were taken up in the first half of 2014 (see table below for a detailed breakdown). This is broadly in line with expectations, as some programmes such as the student intake on programmes such as the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) are concentrated in September/October in line with the academic calendar. A new intake of young people to the second iteration of the Momentum programme for long-term unemployed jobseekers is also scheduled for later in the year. The table supplied displays the total number of under 25s who have started across the various programmes outlined in the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan in the first six months of 2014.