Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know many young people who have been assisted in various ways over the years by good employers and teachers, whether on the Youthreach programme or in schools, colleges and small companies. My main problem with the First Steps scheme is that it is not voluntary in contrast to JobBridge, a scheme the Government repeatedly assures us is a voluntary scheme and which is also open to young persons aged 18 years and upwards. Young people will be selected for First Steps and while they may have access to supports, should they decide to leave the scheme as a result of a problem, their social welfare payments could be stopped or cut. This is a large stick with which to beat young people who are disadvantaged and struggling with major difficulties that will not disappear simply because they participate in the First Steps scheme.

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