Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 187: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the large increase in youth unemployment and the fact Ireland has the second highest levels of youth unemployment among young men at 26.5% in western Europe; the measures she has initiated and plans to introduce to assist young people back into the labour market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30525/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 190: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will convene a special meeting of social partners, including youth organisations, to discuss measures to address youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30529/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 190 together.

At the end of quarter 1, the Quarterly National Household Survey youth unemployment rate stood at 19.3%; the Central Statistics Office will release quarter 2 figures at the end of September. The Government is aware of the difficulty of providing suitable opportunities for young people in the current downturn. A number of measures have been developed to tackle the problem of the rise in youth unemployment. These include the following:

FÁS has more than doubled the number of training and work experience activation courses from 66,000 in 2008 to over 130,000

Through the National Employment Action Plan preventive strategy, just over 5,600 clients, who crossed the three-month unemployment thresholds and who were aged 18 to 24 years, were interviewed by FÁS between January and June 2009. Either half left the Live Register or were referred to a FÁS programme.

In circumstances where there is not an immediate job available, the client will be referred to the 'Youth into Workforce' programme.

Through the Local Training OptionsinFÁS almost 1,000 Early School Leavers have started FÁS Training and Employment Programmes in the year to June 2009.

FÁS is developing a Youth Framework outlining the services FÁS can offer to early school-leavers.

To support apprentices to complete their apprenticeship, the Government has introduced The Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme which provides for the on-the-job training for redundant apprentices with employers who have released their own employed apprentices for off-the-job training.

ESB has agreed to recruit 400 redundant electrical apprentices to allow them to complete their on-the-job training and assessments.

Institutes of Technology are providing 700 places per annum on an 11-week certified training programme for apprentices.

More generally, a number of new training programmes for those who have lost their jobs in the construction sector have been introduced by FÁS.

The Government introduced a Work Placement Programme in June of this year for 2,000 unemployed, with half of the scheme earmarked for graduates who have been unemployed for six months or more, while 25% of the remaining places are earmarked for persons under the age of 25.

As part of its ongoing review of labour market policy, it is intended that officials will engage in a consultation process with key stakeholders on the priorities for unemployment policy in the near future.