Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures to be taken to tackle unemployment and in particular youth unemployment when the EU Council discussed these matters in September 2016. [28656/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Since mid-20012, Ireland’s youth unemployment rate has fallen from 31% (significantly above the then Eurozone average of 24%) to 17% (significantly below the current Eurozone average of almost 21%).

Given the above trends, it is clear that improvement at the overall European level has not been as rapid as in Ireland over the last few years. Indeed, the youth unemployment rate is currently close to or above 40% in three countries, and over 25% in a further four countries.

It was in this context that the conclusions from the recent EU Summit in Bratislava recognised the need for the EU to “create a promising economic future for all and provide better opportunities for youth”. In concrete terms, the Summit envisaged that, in December forthcoming, decisions would be taken on “EU support for Member States in fighting youth unemployment and on enhanced EU programmes dedicated to youth”.

The EU Commission is expected to make an initial presentation on these issues to the Employment and Social Policy Council at its meeting on October 13^th. There has not as yet been an indication as to the nature or scope of any additional EU-level measures that may be proposed by the Commission in response to the Summit conclusions.