Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I appeal to the Tánaiste not to write off our young people, who are seriously affected by having to bear the brunt of the downturn. There has been a 60% year-on-year increase in the number of graduates seeking employment or further training. It is clear from FÁS's commentary on today's quarterly returns that young men have been particularly affected by the downturn. Approximately 40% of those between the ages of 15 and 19 and 30% of those between the ages of 20 and 24 are unemployed. Figures released by third level institutions, including universities and institutes of technology, suggest that many young jobseekers are choosing to stay on in education. Does the Tánaiste agree that if they were not, there would be an even greater explosion or tsunami in the number of younger people who are unemployed? Why are we not focusing on this important issue? Why are real measures not being introduced to address this problem?

The Labour Party has suggested a number of measures over the past 12 months. We proposed the introduction of an early learning scheme, which would play an important role in keeping people in formal education and learning. We also advocated the "bridge the gap" graduate and apprenticeship scheme, which would give first-time jobseekers an opportunity to develop their skills and enhance their job prospects. I suggest that we should eliminate all waiting periods for back to education and back to work allowances. We can get rid of them. We explored the possibility of enhancing eligibility for community employment schemes with the Tánaiste's officials the other day — they are ready to do it. I propose that the cap on the number of post-leaving certificate courses should be lifted. We should get rid of every bureaucratic blockage that is identified. It is desperately important that we focus on flexibility, in the interests of addressing the most important issue of our time. We should massively expand the internship schemes by giving people an opportunity to acquire necessary and vital experience in Government agencies and semi-State bodies. Young unemployed Irish graduates should have more opportunities to work in the EU institutions. I ask the Tánaiste to tell the House whether any of these things will be done to give hope to our young people and send them a signal that they are not being forgotten.

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