Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she continues to focus on youth unemployment, with particular reference to the need to ensure adequate training and up-skilling to facilitate access to the workforce; if she has identified any particular issues as having a serious impact on the creation of employment opportunities for young persons, or obstacles thereto; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40587/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people.

The Youth Guarantee sets a medium-term objective of ensuring that young people receive an offer of employment within four months of becoming unemployed. The main plank of the guarantee is assistance to young people in finding and securing sustainable jobs. For those who do not find employment, additional offers are provided for. Most such offers (over 70%) are in further education or training. Others are in community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tús, or through the JobsPlus employment subsidy for private employment.

Training courses for unemployed people, including the young unemployed, wishing to upskill or re-skill are delivered on a range of programmes provided by Education and Training Boards and funded by Solas. The range of training provided is a matter for the ETBs, Solas and the Department of Education and Skills, after consultation with the Department of Social Protection and other stakeholders, including employers. The range of courses that are currently available can be found on the SOLAS website.

Anybody who is unemployed, including the young unemployed, has access to the full range of training courses involved. Persons who were in receipt of a social welfare payment prior to commencing training will receive a training allowance, which is generally equivalent to the welfare payment they were receiving.