Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have a recovering labour market here and are almost back to pre-pandemic levels of employment. The estimate for 2022 is the unemployment rate will be around 6%. There is a real challenge there for the tourism and hospitality sector. One element that is often forgotten about is youth unemployment. I want to understand how the Government can respond to this across various Departments. The Department of Social Protection is trying to drive down the live register, while the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is trying to recruit. Are there discussions among various Departments regarding a whole-of-government approach to youth employment support programmes? Is work going on to make young people aware there are careers within the sector? Is there an entry programme to enable them to get off the live register and move into the sector?