Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of her recent welcome for the draft joint report from the EU Commission and Council of Ministers on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy, the action she will take to ensure an increased youth policy focus on contributing to Europe 2020 growth agenda with particular regard to measures to support youth employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46724/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission’s draft EU Youth Report on the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (EU Youth Strategy 2012-2018) looks at the situation of young people in the European Union and evaluates the progress made in achieving the overall objectives of the Commission’s EU Youth Strategy during its first three-year cycle (2010-2012). It also serves as a basis for establishing a set of priorities for the coming three-year work cycle which commences with the Irish Presidency. In particular, the draft EU Youth Report recommends strengthening the link between the EU Youth Strategy and Europe 2020. The draft report states that youth work has the potential to do more in the fields of the EU Youth Strategy including education and training, employment, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and social inclusion. The draft Report will be discussed at the upcoming Council of Youth Ministers meeting in November in which I will participate.

This report is timely as it is my aim to ensure that Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for Youth Affairs is relevant and responsive to current issues affecting young people in the EU and that our Presidency makes a substantial contribution to the development of both national and EU policy for the coming years. In this regard, Ireland’s priority for our Presidency term will focus on the contribution of quality youth work to young people’s development and well-being and as a means of achieving positive outcomes for young people in all areas of their lives including vocational and employment readiness.

I consider that youth work has a particular relevance and potential when it comes to seeking to support those young people, who may not be in formalised education, in employment or training. This group of young people is a significant concern across all Member States. As part of Ireland’s Presidency Programme, I plan to host a high-level roundtable event in June 2013 which will explore youth work’s contribution to achieving the goals of Europe 2020, including issues relating to youth employment. Officials of my Department are working closely with other Government Departments including Education and Skills, Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Social Protection on coordinating the progression of this issue under Ireland's Presidency Programme