Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to assist the 88,663 persons under 25 years who are on the live register to find employment or to access retraining; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36383/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last year, the Government decided to prioritise four cohorts of the unemployed for support and assistance. The four cohorts are; the low skilled; those under 35 years of age; those on the Live Register for longer than 1 year and those suffering from structural unemployment in the manufacturing, construction and retail sectors.

This year, the total number of training and work experience activation places for the unemployed delivered by FÁS, the Labour Market Activation Fund and Skillnets will be approximately 160,000. This compares to the 66,000 places that were delivered in 2008. To facilitate young people, FÁS is also prioritising services for the under 25s.

Included in this provision, is the €32 million Labour Market Activation Fund will provide approximately 12,000 activation places for the unemployed. Almost sixty organisations were successful in the Labour Market Activation's Fund's tendering process, as their proposals had to improve the employabiliy and enhance the skills of unemployed persons from the priority cohorts, including those under 35 years of age.

Also included is the Work Placement Programme that was launched last year, as a way of providing work experience for the unemployed in a real work environment. This Programme provides work experience placements for periods up to nine months. As of 27th October 2,200 people had commenced a placement under the Work Placement Programme. The total number of participants aged under 25 currently on the programme is 474.

In relation to redundant apprentices, FÁS has introduced a number of measures which have assisted over 4,000 redundant apprentices with on and off-the-job training. A recent initiative was also introduced with the Department of Defence and the Air Corp to facilitate 30 redundant formerly employed in SR Technics to complete their mechanical apprenticeship.

In addition to the training and employment provision for the unemployed, the State is also investing significantly in the Further and Higher Education sectors. This year the Government is providing 170,000 full time and part time Further Education places and 156,000 full time Higher Education places. In the Higher Education sector all the programmes covered by the free fees scheme are open to unemployed people. Specific initiatives for the unemployed include almost 1,800 unemployed people supported on part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from September 2009 in areas of the 'Smart Economy'.

For early school leavers, there are 6,000 places available under the Youthreach Programme. The programme provides participants with two years integrated education, training and work experience. The programme facilitates early school leavers with opportunities to acquire certification and progress to further training or employment

In addition to providing increased education and training places, the Government has adopted measures to encourage and incentivise unemployed people under 25 years of age to participate in full time education or training. Unemployment benefit has been reduced to €100 per week for those unemployed under 23 and to €150 per week for those aged 24 and 25. However, as an incentive to upskill them, should these individuals participate in full time education and training programmes then they will receive the full normal weekly allowance of €196.

This Government will continue to explore all possibilities in relation to supporting young unemployed individuals.