Mr. Des Henry:

When we first heard about the youth guarantee, it appeared great things were going to happen. Unfortunately, when the implementation plan around it was published we noted people with disabilities were not included. I could not understand it.

What we expected was funding that would allow us to do something different. We expected some innovation or calls for tenders for something different that might help these groups of young people. All of the people involved are young people. The group we represent only want to be treated the same as everybody else. That is all they want. If they are treated the same as everybody else, in terms of being given a little extra support, they will progress. They can and do want to work. They are well able to work, pay their taxes and contribute. However, for some reason our system has chosen to deny them that opportunity. This is evident from what has been happening in terms of implementation of the youth guarantee and, unfortunately, the Pathways scheme, which is also disregarding people on disability allowance. These two opportunities have been provided to help people who want to work but a decision has been made to help only the people who it is believed can work, leaving others aside. We would have expected something innovative to happen.

On Youthreach, while 50% of the people who go through it do not graduate from it, it is proposed to put more money into it in any event. It does not make sense. We do not know who made this decision but we believe it is a mistake.