Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I support the motion. Tomorrow we expect the latest figures on unemployment and expect they will be negative and that unemployment will have soared. Deputy Varadkar mentioned unemployment among young people and I will make further comment on that area. The number of unemployed under 25 year olds is a matter to which the Government should give serious attention. The figures for September 2007 to September 2008 show that nationally the number of people under 25 unemployed has increased by 60%. In Laois and Meath the increase is 95%. This is a startling figure, which probably reflects lay offs in the construction industry where so many young people were employed.

Many of these young people left school to take up a trade that today is no longer viable. Some of them have been on training or apprenticeship courses, but are unable to finish them. We need to focus on this area. Many of these young people probably have no ties, such as a family or house, and will now think of going abroad and seeking employment outside of the country, but we do not want to lose them. We certainly do not want a repeat of the brain drain we had in the 1980s. We want to ensure people like this are identified and offered training that will provide them with alternative employment prospects. They must be recognised and given support. Many of these people could be facilitated by ensuring they can complete their apprenticeship programme.

FÁS appeared recently before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and we had a long discussion on this issue. There are opportunities in the UK and it was suggested to FÁS that it could work with young people who have not completed their apprenticeships and secure positions for them to do so there. High levels of youth unemployment are a serious concern, but it is young people who can most benefit from retraining.

FÁS must become more proactive and must anticipate what is coming down the tracks. It must be flexible in its approach and must encourage people to avail of training opportunities. It must recognise what the market needs and demands. It has set up an environmental construction course, but this is already oversubscribed and cannot match demand. This reflects an organisation that is not flexible enough to cope with or adapt to market demand. We know from Sustainable Energy Ireland how many houses will have to be brought up to the standard of the building energy regulations. The potential for significant spending in that area could create employment opportunities but our national training agency is not equipping people with the requisite skills. Beginning in January 2009, all second-hand homes will be required to have a building energy rating before they are sold or rented. Unfortunately, the people who are qualified to conduct the necessary inspections are few in number. This is but one example of how we can and should react by training young people in the skills needed for a changing market.

Fine Gael's motion calls on the Government to review the back-to-education allowance with a view to facilitating people who are not in receipt of jobseekers allowance for 12 months. This requirement is an obstacle and we should provide for flexibility, particularly in respect of low income workers. There is little difference between what one would receive in social welfare payments and the minimum wage. It would make sense for many people to return to education, provided they have the inclination to upgrade their skills.

It is important that the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social and Family Affairs communicate with each other. In September, my help was sought by a woman who had secured a place on a VTOS course but was not entitled to the back-to-education allowance because she had formerly worked at home looking after four children. As the youngest child had started school, she wanted to avail of the opportunity to upgrade her skills and improve her employment prospects. However, she is required to receive social welfare payments for 12 months before she can take up a course. That is ludicrous. The back-to-education allowance should be available to people who want to improve their prospects. It can be adapted to facilitate these people at no real cost to the State because they are already being paid other social welfare benefits.

See this speech in context