Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Costello. We have learned the correct title is "Deputy". I thank her for her contribution. It is useful when information is delivered in an oral fashion. The employment and social inclusion committee, of which Ms Costello is a member, is well named and constructed, particularly in light of the difficulties being faced across Europe. Ireland is focused on the issue of unemployment and its effect on people across the board. We are doing much in this regard. I welcome the fact that we can key in and have Europe's support in the form of, for example, information on different methods to help the unemployed to find some type of work.

Ms Costello cited a target of 75% employment by 2020. It must be achievable, given the fact that Ireland's unemployment rate was 5% just a number of years ago. We all know the reasons for this and I will not rehearse them.

I support the youth guarantee fund that Ms Costello mentioned and I hope that we will hear good news on the subject today. That Ireland's youth unemployment rate is 27% is a difficult situation. As Ms Costello knows, the Government announced the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 last week. A key element will be to provide an incentive for employers to hire the long-term unemployed. The State will pay ¤1 for every ¤4 that taking on new staff costs an employer. The plan contains a number of other measures.

I am a member of the Oireachtas committee on jobs, which produced a report in the past two weeks on the question of unemployment with particular regard to youth unemployment. The report made a number of recommendations, one of which related to the youth guarantee. We are re-organising training programmes and establishing SOLAS and new further education training boards.

The issue of apprenticeships arises time and again. We have probably gone too far in one direction, losing an important element as we did. The system needs to be adapted. Many people have attended the committee's meetings to explain that we have lost our emphasis on manufacturing. That sector presents a significant opportunity for youth employment. We also recommended the use of a social clause in all contracts issued by the State.

The private sector is doing much, but could do more. The food and grocery sector is supporting young people by providing work. Part-time work is better than no work. The jobs intern programme has been beneficial for young people. It met with some criticism at the beginning, but the results have shown that young people are actively engaging with it and welcome the opportunity. It provides them with essential skills that they would not otherwise have. More than 50% of them are staying in employment in the businesses in which they interned or elsewhere.

We can undertake many initiatives with the support of our European partners. The successful community employment, CE, scheme was expanded in the last budget. It is important, in that it gives people a sense of empowerment and valuable experience. In return, the community benefits.

My time is short. The final part of Ms Costello's contribution was interesting. She discussed how the deprivation fund was utilised. I was unaware of it. I support her comments on the social pact. Ireland has done well and advanced a great deal in Europe, but having targets helps, as does having someone to create initiatives. If we sign up to a pact, nine times out of ten we respond. I would be interested in Ms Costello's further comments on the matter. I look forward to the situation as it develops. I thank Ms Costello for her contribution.