Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, I want to join with the Tánaiste and an Teachta Ó Fearghaíl in expressing my solidarity with the people of the Philippines. Aontaím leis an Taoiseach agus leis an Teachta Ó Fearghaíl faoi na daoine bochta ansin agus cuirim fáilte roimh an tacú atá á thabhairt ag an Rialtas do na daoine sin.

Inniu tá ceist agam faoin aos óg agus an dífhostaíocht. Tuigim go bfhuil an Taoiseach i bPáras inniu ag bualadh le ceannairí ón Aontas Eorpach le fadhb na dífhostaíochta i measc an t-aos óg a phlé, ach sa Stát seo tá an Rialtas ag gearradh siar agus ag déanamh ionsaí ar sochair ár aos óg.

In October, the budget took almost one third of the jobs seeker's allowance from young people aged under 25. Benefits for 20,000 young people were cut by €44 per week. The Tánaiste claimed at the time that this was to encourage these young people to get back to work. He denied that this had anything to do with the Government's austerity policy and he committed to investing in the Youth Guarantee scheme to provide jobs, training and education within four months. A leaked document from the Department of Social Protection, however, has revealed that the Government will not keep to its commitments.

I am sure the Tánaiste knows that the International Labour Organisation has estimated that a decent youth guarantee, like the Swedish model, will cost approximately €6,600 per participant. Is the Government putting that sum into the scheme here to help unemployed young people? No, it is putting a miserly €260 into the pockets of each of these young people. Does the Tánaiste accept that the Youth Guarantee scheme is woefully inadequate and encourages youth emigration?

The 2014 action plan for jobs sets out seven priorities, none of which includes youth unemployment or youth emigration. Why is this so? If the Government is serious about the Youth Guarantee scheme and getting our young people back to work, why does the 2014 action plan for jobs not include youth unemployment or youth emigration as priorities to be tackled?

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