Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Concerning all the problems we heard repeated over and over on television and radio this morning regarding the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Committee of Public Accounts etc., one of the greatest problems facing the country is that of youth out of work, with no work, not in training and with no possibilities. The scale of that challenge is enormous. We are talking about the provision of services, training, work placements and education. I congratulate the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton; the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, on the launch of Pathways to Work. It is most important that young people have access to training, education, work and possibilities. This programme sets out how in the next three to four years we can provide this access. It sets out how we can bring together all the different elements, including Pathways to Work, Intreo services, the new employment services, SOLAS, Tús, Gateway, JobsPlus, JobsPlan, Momentum and Springboard. No matter what our problems are with each of these individually, it is the policy to bring them to fruition in the next two years. The OECD action plan commended Ireland for the fact that so many of our young people stayed in education. We have a wonderful education structure, about whcih we should speak more positively.

I congratulate the three Ministers and everyone involved.

I just met 60 young people looking at portraits of ex Taoisigh in the corridor. They are all from Sheriff Street but are not in school or work but are trying to get training. They are where we need to start with this. This is where this plan starts. It is different for college graduates because they are going into the jobs market with far more ability than those who left school early and did not have educational opportunities. Education is everything. I congratulate all involved.

Over the weekend when I was in Dunnes Stores, at the checkouts I saw large collection buckets for Temple Street Children’s Hospital. While I believe people should give money for this cause, it should not be through open buckets in supermarkets. I thought we were past that.