John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the areas for which the EU funding under the youth guarantee was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41585/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) is one of the main EU financial resources to support the implementation of the youth guarantee by providing job, education and training opportunities to young people aged 15-25 who are not in employment, education of training.  YEI funding is reserved for use in those regions, including Ireland, where youth unemployment levels exceeded 25% during the reference year of 2012. The specific YEI funding allocation for Ireland of €68m is matched by equal amounts from our European Social Fund (ESF) allocation and from the Exchequer, giving an overall allocation of €204m.

The YEI is integrated into ESF programming and is being delivered in Ireland as a dedicated priority axis within the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.  Seven specific actions were selected for funding under the YEI, namely the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; JobBridge; JobsPlus Incentive Scheme; Tús; Youthreach, Social Inclusion and Activation Programme and Momentum. These actions are underway and are being fully funded up-front by the Exchequer.

The ESF Managing Authority within my Department has not made a claim for the relevant ESF/YEI funding from the European Commission to date.  This funding is available for drawdown before the end of 2018 and it is expected that the funding will be fully drawn down.