Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my Topical Issues matter. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Burton, for being present to discuss this important issue.

The need for a youth guarantee has been discussed for many years. From meetings I have attended and spoken at since becoming Chairman of the European Union affairs committee, I know that there is political will for a guarantee. Last year, I spoke at a conference in Nottingham organised by our sister party in the UK, the Labour Party, where political leaders and young people spoke about how a youth guarantee would help to return hope to young Europeans and give them faith in the European project at a time when many do not understand why Europe is important in their lives.

The young people I have met in places like Ratoath, Duleek and Kells want to know what supports they will have if they need them. What is already in place is not good enough for young people who cannot get jobs after leaving school or college. The Minister has done a great deal of work to improve the system in recent years, but more needs to be done. Of those young people undertaking apprenticeships or trying to start their own businesses, for example, it is important that they know they can take that chance without being left behind if it goes wrong.

The Minister signed the agreement during the Irish Presidency of the European Council with the other member states. She managed to get a specific investment of €6 billion in the youth guarantee scheme across the Union. She also worked hard to get €250,000 to start a pilot project in Ballymun in north Dublin. That project is in operation. I have spoken with my party colleagues, for instance, Ms Emer Costello, concerning the pilot project. She is positive about it and has told me that the group engagement is going well and there is tremendous local interest. I wish the pilot project all the best and hope it turns out to be a success. I also hope that the lessons learned from it can be applied nationally when the scheme is rolled out.

That is my main reason for raising this matter. When can young people in places like Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and Stamullen expect to have the same support as the young people in Ballymun? We all want to offer every young adult the best opportunities, but for that to happen we need to put the right supports in place. What will the youth guarantee look like in Meath and how will young people interact with it? There is an opportunity to involve local small to medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, and other stakeholders in the scheme. Will the Minister update the House on when young people in County Meath and elsewhere can expect to see the youth guarantee rolled out to them?

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