John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I urge the Minister to look at it in the next budget. It is certainly having a huge impact on our young unemployed. We know the figures. Young people are twice as likely to be unemployed as older people. The Minister did commit to a report, which I believe was due to be brought forward in the second quarter of 2016. This was in the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy but we still have not seen that report. I am not sure if this is the report to which the Minister has just referred in his reply. He said there were increases to the jobseeker's payment for the young who are unemployed. This was a measly €2.70 for people under the age of 24 and €3.80 for those aged 25 and upwards. This continues the discrimination for young people who are unemployed and it needs to come to an end. I ask that the Minister brings forward the report. Let us have a debate on the matter and put in place measures to end the discrimination for our young people.

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