Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage

 

11:35 am

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I oppose the amendment. I acknowledge where it is coming from but we had a full debate on this issue on Second and Committee Stages when we dealt with sections 9 and 10. The Minister was present throughout the debate and I take issue with Senator Norris's suggestion that the debate is futile or pointless. She has listened carefully to all that we have to say and to the issues raised by the Senator and others and she has committed to providing more detail on the provision of placements and opportunities for young people through the plan being developed for the implementation of the youth guarantee, which will be published before Christmas and which we will have an opportunity to debate with her. We have figures from the Department. The total number of young people who will be affected by this provision will be approximately 14,000. The number of available places for that cohort is in excess of 20,000. That includes the two other Departments affected - the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Education and Skills. Other figures are hypothetical. We will have an opportunity to tease out those issues with the Minister when we debate the plan for implementation of the youth guarantee and that will be the appropriate time to make these arguments. We are all concerned to ensure the young people affected by this measure will have opportunities available to them through work placements, training and further education. Nobody aged 25 or under should be forced to languish on the dole.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.