Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is easy to see why they are emigrating when unemployment is rising so rapidly there. Would Sinn Féin like the Government here to have a similar policy in the North of Ireland where young adults are paid only £67 per week? Would it implement that policy if it ever came into power here?

When I had just qualified, I was unemployed for a while. However, at the time, there was nothing for me such as schemes, work programmes or Pathways to Work. Now, we have various schemes in place to assist young people find employment. I compliment the Taoiseach on his work in prioritising the youth guarantee when Ireland held the EU Presidency. It is important certain schemes are ring-fenced for people under 25 so they can get back into training programmes and can see light at the end of the tunnel. I welcome the ring-fenced funding under the microfinance scheme for young entrepreneurs as they find it difficult to access credit from the mainstream lenders.

I would like to see the social welfare system adapt a little better to take account of those people who are in short-term work or have short-term contracts in order that they can get back into long-term employment as quickly as possible. One fault with the social welfare system is that we do not receive information quickly enough on the schemes available. I ask the Minister to make sure information on such schemes is made available as quickly as possible for young people in order that they know what is available for them.

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