THE Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, visited a Ballymun Youth Guarantee event last week, which showcased the range of courses and employment opportunities available to jobseekers aged between 18-24 in the area.
The aim of the EU-wide Youth Guarantee is to provide young people under the age of 25 with a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a short time of becoming unemployed.
Speaking at the event, Minister Burton noted that in some EU countries the rate of youth unemployment is close to 60 per cent.
“Thankfully, recent data on youth employment and unemployment levels in Ireland are more positive – the level of youth emigration has stabilised, youth employment is growing slightly and the level of youth unemployment has fallen,
? she said.
The most recent data from Eurostat shows Ireland’s youth unemployment rate at 25 per cent, a reduction of eight percentage points from its peak level. However, Minister Burton said this is still far too high.
The Youth Guarantee is supported by central EU funding of e6 billion. The Ballymun pilot was one of the first of its kind to receive approval from the EU Commission and is leading the way in informing the further development and roll out of the national plan.
As part of the Ballymun Youth Guarantee, each young jobseeker in the area will receive a guarantee of access to career guidance, leading to identification of an individual career plan with follow-through to training, education, work experience or full-time employment.
Minister Burton said the Government expects to provide a guarantee offer to around 30,000 young people at the highest risk of long-term unemployment this year.
“In this way our young unemployed people will be offered the opportunities they need to remain active in, attached to, and aligned with the requirements of the labour market,
? she added.
Further information on the Ballymun Youth Guarantee Initiative is available on the website www.youthguarantee.ie.