Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the youth employability initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34179/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Earlier this year, I announced details of the €600,000 Youth Employability Initiative which is funded under the Dormant Accounts scheme. Under the Initiative 28 youth projects will receive grants to support innovative programmes that target disadvantaged young people who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. The programmes will aim to build skills that will enhance their employability and over 1000 young people aged 15 to 24 years across the country will benefit.

My Department has set up a Forum with the successful projects to share experiences and knowledge and to gather and share the lessons from this initiative to inform future policy in this area. Two events have taken place to date in this regard. The Initiative is being evaluated by the Centre for Effective Services.