Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to assist 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. [45547/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last year, in order to minimise the drift into long-term unemployment, the Government through the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal, 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.

The provision of training places for the unemployed for 2011 is currently being discussed between officials from my Department and the relevant providers. However, I expect that my Department will provide approximately 100,000 training places for the unemployed next year. In addition, my Department is also investing significantly in the Further and Higher Education sectors. In 2011 it is expected that 170,000 full time and part time Further Education places and 156,000 full time Higher Education places will be provided. The bulk of this provision is open to persons under 25 years of age when they meet the relevant criteria.

Included in this provision and of particular relevance to young people would be the following programmes.

The €32 million Labour Market Activation Fund, which 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 part of their proposals, organisations had to demonstrate how they would improve the employability and enhance the skills of unemployed persons from the priority cohorts, including those under 35 years of age.

The Work Placement Programme was launched last year with a view to providing unpaid work experience for the unemployed in a real work environment. This Programme provides work experience placements for periods of up to nine months. Since the start of the programme a total of 2,574 people have commenced a placement under the programme. A total of 524 participants currently on the programme are under 25 years of age. In Budget 2011, the Government announced that the number of places on the Work Placement Programme will be increased from the current 2,000 to 7,500 with 5,000 additional places in the public sector. The remaining 500 places will be for graduates in the private sector.

The Government also announced the new Skills Development and Internship Programme in Budget 2011. This programme will provide participants with a placement in an enterprise in the public sector and access to a significant education and training element. It is intended that the programme will be operational by the end of the first quarter next year.

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. FÁS is providing an expanded Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme for up to 1,000 apprentices in specified trades who have been made redundant. In addition, up to 700 places in the Institute of Technology for redundant apprentices and crafts persons will commence early next year.

FÁS has recently developed the Local Training Options (LTO) pilot programme under the Local Training Initiative programme. This pilot programme is increasing the capacity of the Local Training Initiative programme to respond to the needs of low or semi-skilled unemployed people aged between 18-25 years and who have low educational qualifications.

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 summary, my Department will continue next year to provide a significant, diverse range of labour market activation provision to the unemployed, including those under 25 years of age. This will aim to keep young people active, close to the labour market and will improve their prospects of securing employment.