Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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561. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which youth unemployment continues to be specifically targeted by way of ensuring the availability of maximum number of training places, internships, apprenticeships or temporary employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53844/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through the Pathways to Work Strategy 2016-2020, to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, including young people.

To date, these policies have been effective in increasing the numbers of young people at work and reducing youth unemployment.

The number of young people at work rose from an average of 197,000 in 2012 to 262,200 by the third quarter of 2018.

Latest available data from the CSO shows that Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 12.3% in November 2018 and now lies below the EU average of 15%. Ireland is on course to bring youth unemployment below 12% in accordance with Pathways to Work targetsfor 2020.

Many of the elements of a Youth Guarantee were already in place in Ireland prior to the EU Recommendation, so the implementation of the Irish Youth Guarantee focuses on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to secure sustainable jobs. Under the Youth Guarantee process case officers engage with unemployed young people, on a monthly basis, 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, which are closely aligned to the needs of the labour market.

For those who do not find employment, through the process just described, further education or training programmes such as; in existing community-based employment programmes/workplace based interventions such as Community Employment and Tús; or in subsidies to employers, through JobsPlus Youth. Long-term unemployed jobseekers under-25 are also referred to JobPath, a contracted, payment-by-results employment services that provides additional resources and supports to the long-term unemployed.

The table below displays the number of new participants (aged 18-24) on Youth Guarantee Programmes for the period 2016 and 2017. Demand for places has fallen in line with a reduction in the level of youth employment. Figures for 2018 are currently being finalised.

New Participants on Youth Guarantee Programmes (2016 and 2017)

* Momentum ceased taking new entrants in 2016

**JobBridge scheme ceased in mid-2016.

The Government is committed to more than doubling the number of new apprentices registered to 9,000 by 2020 and expanding further into new areas. Budget 2018 allocated €122m for apprenticeship training, an increase of almost 25% on the previous year. This allows for the delivery of 10 more apprenticeship programmes and over 6,000 new apprenticeship registrations in 2018. Budget 2019 provides for an additional €29m funding to continue the expansion of apprenticeship training to ensure close alignment with labour market skill requirements.

Government policy measures to reduce youth joblessness, together with the continuing economic recovery, will continue to support further reductions in youth unemployment.