Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Taoiseach if he has responded to the letter from the European Commission President, Mr. Barroso, of 31 January last inviting him to submit plans and proposals to address youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9481/12]

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Taoiseach if he plans to establish an action team as requested by European Commission President, Mr. Barroso, to address youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9482/12]

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Taoiseach if a date for the European Commission team visit to Ireland to discuss youth unemployment as indicated in the letter from the European Commission President, Mr. Barroso, dated 31 January last has been set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9483/12]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 100, inclusive, together.

Following on from the informal European Council meeting in January, President Barroso wrote to the eight member states with youth unemployment levels significantly above the EU average. The countries involved are Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Lithuania, Italy, Portugal, Latvia and Ireland.

In his letter President Barroso offered the assistance of the Commission to explore ways to combat youth unemployment and increase supports for small and medium sized enterprises.

I replied to President Barroso indicating that I agree that there is urgency in tackling this issue.

I also highlighted that this initiative is timely in the context of the Government's recently published Action Plan on Jobs and the labour market activation policy statement 'Pathways to Work' which is due to be published this week.

As a first stage in this process Commission officials are visiting today, Tuesday 21 February, to meet with officials from relevant Departments to explore these issues in some detail.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has informed the House, and the Commission is aware, that Ireland has no unallocated Structural Funds. Recent Commission figures show that Ireland has the highest Cohesion absorption rate in the EU at 48% for the current 2007-2013 Structural and Cohesion funding round and it is estimated that the remaining 52% allocated to Ireland will be drawn down. We will, in the first instance, be looking at whether employment programmes might be re-focused to better effect.