David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that youth unemployment has been consistently over twice the overall national rate of unemployment in the past four years (details supplied); the efforts his Department is making to tackle youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37919/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The success of the Irish labour market over the past decade has been unparalleled in the recent history of Europe. Since 1997 more than 522,000 jobs have been created, unemployment has more than halved and long-term unemployment has fallen to 1.4%. Over the same period, the number of young persons in employment has increased by approximately 20% while the number of unemployed youths has fallen by 27%. This impressive labour market performance has continued this year with the latest CSO figures showing an increase of 5% in the numbers employed. The most recent EU data show our youth unemployment rate of 8.5% is the second lowest in the EU and well below the EU 25 average rate of 18.1%.

The report referred to by the Deputy states that the youth unemployment rate has fallen in recent years and that the rate generally tends to be higher than the overall unemployment rate. This is not unique to Ireland and is mainly due to factors such as seasonal employment and a greater level of frictional unemployment. Young persons in the labour market tend to be more mobile and switch jobs more often.

A wide range of labour market measures specifically designed to help young people access the labour market are available through FÁS. FÁS systematically engages with unemployed young people early in their unemployment spell, to prevent a drift into long-term unemployment. These persons are accorded priority by FÁS in the allocation of places on its training and employment programmes. In addition, FÁS has a specific programme of action designed to provide early school leavers with basic skills and work experience to aid progress towards further training or employment.