Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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319. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the terms of reference and membership of the Interdepartmental Group on the Youth Guarantee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39454/13]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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320. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the Interdepartmental Group on the Youth Guarantee to finalise their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39455/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.

The terms of reference for this group are to review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the implementation of the Guarantee. It is intended to produce a concrete plan for the implementation of the Guarantee for consideration by the Government in December before being transmitted to the European Commission by the end of 2013.

The Department of Social Protection set up this interdepartmental group with officials and programme managers from the Department of Education and Science, Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

One objective in developing our implementation approach will be to maximise our share of the funding available from the EU and to deploy these funds to maximum effect in providing employment and training/further education supports and opportunities to young unemployed people.