Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nuair a smaoiním ar daoine óga, smaoiním ar daoine a bhfuil cliste, bríomhar, chumasach agus paiseanta. Austerity rules, Minister. Cuirim fáilte roimh the National Youth Council, SpunOut, the Union of Students in Ireland and the Mandate trade union to this debate on the youth guarantee.

I attended events in London and New York in recent weeks which attracted large numbers of the diaspora. I met many young people who were forced to emigrate as a result of the disastrous policies of the previous Fianna Fáil Government and those of the current Fine Gael-Labour Administration. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are our own little indigenous troika. These young people do not want to be away from their families and they did not want to leave their friends and communities behind ach ní raibh aon obair ar fáil dóibh sa bhaile. Many rightly believe, this is also my view, that the Government like its predecessors is using forced emigration as a safety valve as a matter of policy.

The average level of youth unemployment in Europe is 23.5%. Here it is 28%. This means there are 64,700 young people in this country who are officially unemployed. Many of them live in my constituency in Louth. The youth guarantee scheme is supposed to help tackle this problem and offer all young people up to the age of 25 continued education, apprenticeships, traineeships or jobs within four months of leaving formal education or being unemployed. However, it does not guarantee jobs. This highlights the major disconnect that exists. Jobs are a consequence of economic growth. If there is no growth, there will be no new jobs. All the apprenticeships and training schemes in the world will not create jobs. As my colleagues have already noted, in the budget introduced last month the Government took almost one third of jobseeker's allowance from young people under the age of 25. The Tánaiste claimed that this is not really cutting benefits. It was also stated that what is being done is necessary in order to encourage young people into employment. A leaked document from the Department of Social Protection has warned that the Government cannot keep to its own commitments in respect of the youth guarantee scheme. Perhaps the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, will respond in respect of this matter when he makes his contribution.

The International Labour Organisation has estimated that a decent youth guarantee scheme such as that implemented in Sweden costs approximately €6,600 per participant. It also stated that €435 million would be needed to provide such a scheme in this State. To date, the Government has only committed to spending €14 million or a miserly €260 on each young citizen. Following the Paris summit, the Taoiseach referred to €200 million being provided by Europe. However, no information has been forthcoming on this money. It was also said that the State would be obliged to find one third of this €200 million. From where will the Government produce the €60 million in matching funding that is required?

The fact is that 300,000 citizens - mainly young people - have been forced to emigrate during the past four years. There are now 18,000 fewer young people in paid employment today than was the case when the Government entered office. There is a crisis in respect of youth unemployment and the Government must implement a real and viable job creation strategy connected to a practical apprenticeship, education and training programme. The amendment to the motion tabled by the Government will not facilitate this. Why will the Government not support Sinn Féin's proposal to provide an adequately funded youth guarantee scheme? Why will it not sign up to make youth employment a key priority? The Government pretends that there is no problem and that its strategy is working. Young people tell a different story. They know they come from the best small country in the world to get out of. The damage their leaving will do to their communities, society and their families will be with us for generations.

Sinn Féin's motion proposes a practical and fair alternative to the Government's policy. It is not austerity and we are proud of that fact. Our alternative offers a just, fair and practical way to fund a real youth guarantee scheme. I urge Deputies to support it.

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