Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not at all accept Deputy Mary Lou McDonald's assertion. I heard her being questioned on this issue this morning and when she was asked what she would do, she gave no answer, other than to continue with Sinn Féin's policy of Sinn Féin promotion. Like everybody else, I regard the young people of this country as its future. The Deputy, however, seems to want to confine them to the dole queues and not give them the opportunity to get off the live register or dole queues and take the opportunity to be trained, mentored, attend further education or find a job or to incentivise them to do this. I do not accept her assertion in this regard.

Clearly, in reforming the social protection system there must be a difference between those who have the motivation and incentive to find a job to better themselves and others. Many opportunities are being provided by a range of Ministries to help young people to improve themselves. I understand the allocation in Northern Ireland is approximately €65 for a young person under 25 years, while it is €144 here. If a young person goes on a training course or participates in a back-to-education scheme or, as a graduate, in the JobBridge scheme, the allocation increases to €160 or over €200, depending on the subsidy involved. Clearly, there are opportunities and incentives for young men and women to get out and avail of these opportunities. It is the challenge for the Government and its agencies to provide them. For example, the jobseeker's allowance for young people under 26 years who participate in a back-to-education course is being increased to €160 a week. This means that in addition to their enhanced career and job prospects as a result of improving their skills and education levels, there is a financial incentive for them to participate in education and training. Budget 2014 has also allocated an additional €14 million to increase the number of places for young people. For example, there will be 1,500 new places on the JobsPlus scheme. The criteria for the scheme will also be amended in order that those under 25 years need only be six months unemployed to be eligible for it. There will also be 1,500 JobBridge places for those under 25 years. A minimum number of 2,000 places are also ring-fenced at a cost of €6 million for people under 25 years who will be out of work in 2014.

These places will be provided under a follow-up to the MOMENTUM programme, which has been very successful in 2013. Next year the Department of Social Protection and the Minister, Deputy Burton, will spend €1.08 billion on work, training, education places and related supports for young people and jobseekers. This is an increase of €85 million on the projected spend this year.

We want to see a real drive to incentivise and motivate young people to take a back-to-education course, a training or mentoring course or one of the schemes in which places have been reserved for young people. We must allow them the opportunity to fulfil their potential and lead them on to the world of work, where their work will be rewarded, instead of letting them languish in a dispirited, disappointed fashion on the dole queues. That is not what the Government is about. The budget is about bailout exit in December and providing jobs and opportunities for young people to work, as the vast majority of them want to do.

See this speech in context