Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her contribution to date and I acknowledge the work that has been done, by her and the Tánaiste in particular, in progressing the youth guarantee and highlighting it during the period of Irish Presidency of the EU. She has ensured it is front-loaded, which is very important. This is a serious issue, not only for Ireland but across Europe. We all know the figures.

We should put this in context. We have lost very many jobs in this country, some hundreds of thousands. Our unemployment level was over 14%, with jobs being lost in the construction sector in particular, which used to employ many young people, in retail, banking and many areas of the services sector. I noted some business publications and news this week. The latest news from the Department of Finance, its economic bulletin of this week, shows that for the second successive year we have had growth, 1.3% last year. The Department, the IMF, the Central Bank, the European Commission and the ESRI all forecast that the economy will recover in the next few years, with growth from a minimum of 2.2% to a maximum of 2.7%, and from next year to 2016 they forecast an improvement of some 2% in GDP. That is positive and we should all acknowledge it. The Minister has mentioned the employment figures, noting how the numbers of those in employment have increased, according to recent bulletins. The figures for young people show they are gaining employment. At present we are seeing improvements in all the headline figures that were so depressing and disappointing in recent years. The services value index rose again, by 1.2% in April. Irish bond yields rose as did loans to SMEs this week, as acknowledged by ISME. Foreign direct investment continues to improve in this country. Governments do not create jobs; they create the environment in which jobs are created. The Minister has outlined her role in dealing with the difficulty young people have in gaining employment, a role that rests with her Department as well as with the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Education and Skills.

I will take issue with another point, if I may. The Minister has dealt with the motion tabled by Sinn Féin but I refer to that party's statement that of the 333 actions listed in the action plan for jobs only four relate to young people. That is completely untrue. Every one of those actions relates to young people and to ensuring that jobs are created within a suitable environment. I entirely refute that statement.

I mentioned the economy and how it is improving. Slowly we are beginning to see a start whereby we can get this country back in action. It is only by improving the economy that jobs can and will be created. The Minister outlined in the budget of last December the additional places she has secured in a range of programmes, including JobBridge, Tús, and community employment, with 25% of these expected to be taken up by young unemployed people. JobBridge in particular has been very successful. This has been established by an independent survey from Indecon. As the Minister noted, there have been 17,000 participants in the programme so far. The most positive result seen in the independent report by Indecon into JobBridge is the fact that more than 60% of participants have gained employment. It is an extremely positive and beneficial programme. I encourage the Minister to continue with it, as I am sure she will, because it engages across not only the public and private sectors but also the voluntary sector.

No single solution will cure our current unemployment problem but a number of issues are being tackled. Education and training are very important. Job searching assistance and guiding, gaining work experience and encouraging job creation are what the action plan for jobs is about. I particularly welcome the statement by the Tánaiste last week in which he agreed an action plan on youth unemployment with the OECD. From listening to OECD delegates reading their papers and hearing them speak on a number of occasions, I know they are really concerned about the level of youth unemployment, in particular throughout Europe. They have much experience in dealing with challenges and I know they will work at close hand with the Government in addressing this issue. The OECD calls continually for industry to engage in training structures, to offer either technical training or engage via third level institutes or universities to ensure the correct programmes and types of training are being developed so that young people can move into employment.

I refer to the entrepreneurship programme. There was a debate in this House recently on entrepreneurship. The microfinance scheme established by the Minister, Deputy Bruton, if not specifically targeted at young people, is available to them. It is for traditional businesses that cannot get collateral or support from banks. Funding is available, ranging from as little as €2,000 to €25,000. I urge Senator Reilly to encourage those people to whom she speaks to participate in this scheme because funding is available directly for the type of businesses in which young people who want to start their own enterprise should engage.