Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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218. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which efforts are being made to address long term youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2374/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment – including long-term unemployment and youth unemployment – is twofold. The Action Plan for Jobs supports continuing strong economic recovery and employment growth. Policies and actions to ensure that unemployed people benefit from the increase in employment are set out in the strategy paper Pathways to Work 2016-2020.

To date, these policies have been effective in reducing both youth and long-term unemployment.

For example, the most recent data shows that Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 14.8% in September 2017. Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 (23%) to well below the current EU figure of 19.1%.

Latest available data shows that the long-term unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of 9.5% in 2012 to 3.1% in Q2 2017. The long-term unemployment rate for young people has fallen from over 15% at peak to below 5% in mid-2017.

Both the youth and long-term figures can be expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment. Additionally, Ireland is on course to bring youth unemployment below 12% and long-term unemployment below 2.5% in accordance with Pathways to Worktargets for 2020.

Policy continues to focus on support for the long-term unemployed and young unemployed. For example, the Pathways to Work 2016-2020strategy prioritises long-term unemployed people – most notably through the roll-out of JobPath to engage more systematically with this group; through targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and through reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.

Under the Youth Guarantee process there is monthly engagement by case officers with unemployed young people to assist them to prepare and implement personal progression plans for employment. Where young people do not find work quickly, additional supports are offered through places on employment and training schemes.

Later this year I will be introducing a new work experience programme targeted specifically at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment – people who even during the Celtic Tiger years would have found it difficult to get a foothold on the career ladder. The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. Host Organisations will be encouraged to hire participants who have performed well and will qualify for a financial subsidy under JobsPlus Youth. YESS will compliment other initiatives such as the expanded range of Apprenticeships and Career Traineeships.

These current and planned measures, together with the continuing strong performance of the economy, will support further reductions in long term unemployment and youth unemployment.