Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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386. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the youth guarantee scheme to be implemented for persons under 25 years in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9199/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is envisaged that nationally the guarantee as it affects those aged under 18 years will be implemented within 2 years, i.e. by the end of 2015.

The guarantee of an offer of training, education or work experience for those aged 18-24 years after a four month period should be implemented on a phased basis as follows:

- Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2014, processes and programmes will be progressively rolled out to ensure that all of those young unemployed people who need most support (i.e. are assessed as having a low probability of securing employment in the absence of support from the Public Employment Services) will receive a Youth Guarantee offer within four months.

- Starting in 2014, and for completion by the end of 2015, processes and programmes will be progressively rolled out to ensure that all those young unemployed people assessed as having a medium-to-high probability of finding employment will, if still unemployed after nine months, receive a Youth Guarantee Offer.

- During 2014 – 2015 all long-term unemployed young people under 25 will be engaged by the Public Employment Service and will receive a Youth Guarantee offer if still unemployed after four months of this engagement process commencing.

The operation and coverage of the Youth Guarantee offer described above will be reviewed before the end of 2015, in the light of developing events in the economy and in the labour market. Should the labour market situation of young people improve during this period the review will examine opportunities to broaden and deepen the level of supports offered in respect of those young people who continue to be unemployed.

The precise timing of the roll-out of these new processes during the remainder of 2014 has yet to be determined. While implementation of the Youth Guarantee will be a matter for the respective Department of Social Protection Divisions in each geographical area, the timing of roll-out is not likely to differ across the various regions of the country.