Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Social and Protection and the Taoiseach were in Paris recently to discuss the youth guarantee scheme. The Government has mentioned the provision of approximately €200 million for the scheme, but the National Youth Council of Ireland and the International Labour Organization reckon the State needs to invest between €400 million and €435 million to adequately tackle youth unemployment. Approximately €14 million has been set aside next year to target job creation for young people. I do not know what the plan will be because it has not been worked out yet, but there has to be a change in policy when it comes to youth unemployment. The Minister of State mentioned JobBridge. The Minister for Social Protection often refers to a 60% progression rate from the scheme into employment but the progression rate for young teachers is less than 30%. It may be working in some areas but JobBridge and other schemes are not resulting in full-time employment for young people in other areas.

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