Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

When my officials receive the transcript of this debate, I will try to ensure more detailed replies are provided to those Senators who have made specific requests for information and made particular points. I will make a few general remarks about the position of young people in Ireland. As Senators will have seen, the secondary school completion rate in Ireland has reached 90%, which is a tremendous national achievement. People often complain about teachers, but it is a great tribute to those involved in education in Ireland that so many young people are now staying on in school until 18 or 18 and a half years of age. Many of our young people are in education and will complete their leaving certificate. Our school completion rate of 90% is one of the highest of any country. The school completion programme, which is in place as we speak in areas where young people are inclined to leave school early, is very important. We will be following that process from an educational point of view in the hope of keeping young people in school and ensuring they complete their leaving certificates, at least.

I would like to take up one of Senator O'Donnell's points. If young people are to take up apprenticeships and traineeships, they need a good basic level of education. It is clear from the experience in countries like Austria, Germany and Finland, which have low levels of youth unemployment, that participation in a wide variety of educational and other opportunities and pathways is critical. As most Senators know, no one thing will address the needs of everybody. It is a question of having a series of different options. Some Senators, including Senator Mooney, will appreciate that those young people who leave school at 16 years of age are almost always the same people who are most at risk of long-term unemployment. As we speak, we have an adequacy of places on the Youthreach and community training schemes.

I was asked how many Intreo offices have been rolled out so far. The Intreo system is in operation in between 45 and 50 social welfare offices throughout the country. A large number of them have been converted. There are issues in a number of places, including Cork city. As Senators probably know, requests have been made over the last ten years for more and better social welfare offices to supplement the existing facilities. That process, which involves the OPW, has been fairly protracted. I am constantly involved in efforts to sort out supplementary provision in Cork sooner rather than later. The fact of the matter is that we are in the hands of the OPW in that respect. Many of the Intreo processes are under way in Cork. I have been in the social welfare office in Cork on a number of occasions. I have to say that in Cork and right around the country, the staff of the Intreo offices and the social welfare system in general have participated enthusiastically in this process. The next Intreo office that is due to be opened, in honour of the Cathaoirleach, is in Castlebar. I assume the Taoiseach and the Cathaoirleach will be there to celebrate that. It is very important because it is not just a question of the offices. Perhaps Senator O'Donnell will come home to Mayo for that day as well.