Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Under the Youth Guarantee implementation plan, the Department committed to developing a developmental internship scheme for young disadvantaged jobseekers. These young people would have faced difficulties, even during the boom period, in securing an interview, not to speak of a job. Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I represent similar parts of Dublin and he will be aware that throughout the boom, many of the young people in our constituencies did not have access to job opportunities.

The objective of First Steps is to encourage employers to open their doors to such young people and give them an opportunity to learn and develop basic work and social skills while on a placement in a real work scenario. To this end, the Department is canvassing employers to sponsor one or more disadvantaged young persons on an internship of between six and nine months' duration. It is intended that approximately 1,500 young people will benefit from this opportunity.

First Steps differs from JobBridge in that internships will not be advertised by employers. Instead, participants will be identified by the Department and placed with a sponsoring organisation. In addition, the work experience will comprise four days per week on the job compared to five days per week under JobBridge. All participants will receive pre-employment training and will be supported by a dedicated case officer from the Department and a mentor in the sponsoring organisation.

Given the nature of the opportunity to be provided and the commitment that is being asked of employers, it is not unreasonable to ask young persons who have been assessed as being suitable for a placement to take up the placement on offer. The Department, in identifying and assessing potential participants, will take care to ensure they are suited to the placements available and will pay due regard to any reasons that may be put forward by young persons as to why the placement is not appropriate in their circumstances.

The Deputy and I both know many young people who were left on the sidelines when the previous recession ended. Many young people in our constituencies became dependent on social welfare immediately after leaving school because they were not afforded any opportunities. This scheme is targeted at assisting disadvantaged young persons by giving them work experience and enabling them to progress into employment.

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