Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss this very welcome and important implementation plan. A failure to reverse the tide of youth emigration and unemployment would mean allowing our brightest and best to depart, possibly for ever, and would denude the country of its future leaders in every sphere of life. Several stark statistics illustrate the extent of the challenge the Government is facing. Over the past five years, the number of people between the ages of 15 and 24 in employment fell by a staggering 60% and the youth unemployment rate nearly trebled to 33%. In the three years following the economic crash, some 10% of our youth population emigrated . Although youth emigration has recently stabilised and youth unemployment has begun to fall, as reflected in this morning's CSO figures, the Minister has rightly pointed out that much more needs to be done.

In that regard, I welcome the publication of the youth guarantee implementation plan and the opportunity to discuss the matter here today. I compliment the officials who drew up this comprehensive document and am particularly grateful for the statistical analysis contained therein. I note that the National Youth Council of Ireland has given a broad welcome to the plan, while expressing some concerns - concerns I share - regarding the resource base behind it. Can the Minister provide a breakdown of the new resources committed to this particular programme? I note the detailed chart outlining proposed Exchequer expenditure on the plan. Will the Minister clarify whether there will be roll-over from other programmes plus additional funding or a new dedicated stream of funding?

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport indicated in this House that estimated expenditure on programmes providing employment, training and further education opportunities for young people will be in excess of €500 million in 2014.

This appears to be an overall figure, which includes new, existing and EU funding. In that regard, perhaps we could obtain an indication regarding when the Irish application for funding under the EU youth employment initiative will be made. Perhaps it might be possible to obtain clarity in respect of this matter.

I am fully cognisant of the fact that resource constraints apply and that we will be obliged to implement the plan on a phased basis because available funds do not allow for immediate and full implementation. If, however, some indication of how the programme is currently being funded is provided, this would be of great assistance in mapping its future. For example, is the Minister in a position to supply an update on the location and number of Intreo offices countrywide? Are there any plans to increase the number of employment service officers in the Department? The plan indicates that caseworker costs are not included and it is stated that the experience during the first period of the plan will indicate the additional caseworker requirement. I welcome the proposal to involve local and community groups in the registration process. Would it be possible for the Minister, who referred to the pilot project in Ballymun, to provide additional details in this regard? Have the Minister or her Department identified any particular groups in respect of this matter and have any of these been approached? I accept that she probably dealt with this matter to some extent during her opening contribution.

On a more general note, the EU youth guarantee requires that a young person is to be given a good quality offer of employment. Is there some baseline or criterion which will be used to deem whether such an offer is of good quality. Is there an in-built measurement system similar to that relating to the Action Plan for Jobs in the context of key performance indicators and specific deadlines by which certain actions must take place? If such a system exists and if there is departmental oversight in this regard, then it would spur matters on to an enormous degree and give rise to increased public confidence.

The announcement of this plan is very positive for young people. I compliment the Minister, her officials and the Government on the straightforward way in which it is laid out. I wish the Minister every success with it.