Mr. James Doorley:

Senator Barrett mentioned changes in finance Bills. We are always amused when organisations with which we work receive a small grant and have to prove that the work they do is valuable and impactive. We agree with this; it is public money. However, I am always surprised when small changes in a finance Bill which might cost the State millions of euro are slipped through without great scrutiny. We would support some reform in that area.

Senator Barrett talked about young people in a niche. We have very high levels of third level participation and during the boom times the young people who did not want or could not afford to go to third level got jobs. We had 8,000 or 9,000 apprenticeships, for example, during the construction boom. When the recession hit, it collapsed to 1,000 or less. Many of the people concerned who wanted to go to work after school had opportunities, but now many people who do not want or cannot afford to go to college have very few opportunities to pursue education, training or work. That is one of the reasons we have very high levels.

In certain areas in particular we have young people who, for a variety of reasons such as family issues, problems with school or school policies, are cast adrift between the ages of 13 and 16 years. Many of the organisations with which we work are working with young people in that category who are engaged with no other public service, apart from youth services. They find it very difficult to get anything to meet their needs. It is a major issue, which is why we support the youth guarantee because for the first time the State has to respond and treat all young people equally.