Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he expects job creation over the next three years to focus on the job requirements of youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38587/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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A key objective of the Action Plan for Jobs process, which this Government commenced in 2012, was to rebuild our economy based on enterprise and entrepreneurship, talent, innovation and exports, in order to provide a solid foundation for future growth and to provide employment opportunities for all age cohorts. The goal of this Government has been to replace all of the jobs lost during the economic crisis and deliver sustainable full employment by the end of 2018.

The Action Plan for Jobs is having a positive impact on employment in the economy, since the first Plan was launched in early 2012. Since Q1 2012, 126,000 additional people are at work. The unemployment rate is now at 9.4%, down from 15.1% at the peak of the recession and we are making progress on reducing the numbers of youth and long-term unemployed.

The progress made by Government in supporting job creation and in reducing unemployment for those under 25 is impressive. Since the launch of the first plan in Q1 2012, 126,000 more people are at work, exceeding the original target of an additional 100,000 jobs by 2016. The number of unemployed young people has fallen significantly over the period from 76,000 in Q2 2012 to 42,000 in Q2 2015, a fall of 47%. This progress must be sustained.

Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. The Action Plan for Jobs complements the Government’s Pathways to Work, developed by the Department of Social Protection, which sets out specific measures for young people, under the Youth Guarantee and Youth Activation charter, to help them access the labour market and new job opportunities.

We will continue to focus on improvements in skills provision through the provision of programmes for a diverse range of individuals including young unemployed people through the Education and Training Boards in the implementation of the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-‘18, the Momentum and Springboard programmes, employment incentive programmes such as the new Youth JobsPlus initiative, and doubling of high end skills as part of the second ICT Skills Action Plan. The new apprenticeships programme provides further opportunities for young people to find rewarding careers for the future. The first phase, comprising 25 new apprenticeship proposals across a wide range of sectors, was announced in July of this year.

The HEA will also support the use of third level facilities out of term to promote greater awareness and interest in technology, science and engineering among young people. In the areas of entrepreneurship, Local Enterprise Offices provide a first stop shop for young entrepreneurs with an idea of interested in starting a business and we will build on the success of “Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur” competition.

My Department is currently developing the 2016 Plan and is engaging bilaterally with Government Departments to identify actions to ensure that the 2016 Plan is as ambitious and impactful as possible and keeps us on track to achieve our goal to have 2.1 million people in employment by 2018. The Tánaiste, and Minister for Social Protection, is also developing a new Pathways to Work Strategy for the period 2016 to 2020.

Our Departments will continue to build on the progress to date through the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work to ensure that more employment opportunities are available to young people who are seeking work.