Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions that are to be taken following the one-day special summit in Berlin on youth unemployment, particularly in respect of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34269/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The main conclusion from European Heads of State and the European Labour and Social Protection Ministers at the Berlin conference in July 2013 was that implementation of the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee should focus on:

- The development of a vocational dual-training model as used in Germany and Austria - i.e., an expanded system of formal apprenticeships featuring classroom based and work based training.

This requires significant commitment from employers;

- The support and promotion of internships;

- The promotion of intra-EU labour mobility from areas of labour surplus to areas with full employment;

- The targeted use of employment subsidies to promote the recruitment of young people;

- The development of youth entrepreneurship supports including micro-finance;

- The review and redesign of business processes in Public Employment Services (PES) to ensure that young people receive early and effective support in transitioning from education or unemployment back into employment;

- The development of closer links between PES/training agencies and employers.

This conclusion is now informing how the Government is developing it's plan for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ireland. It is expected that this plan will be finalised for submission to the EU by the end of 2013.