Jobs funding left unspent

LOCAL councillors have slammed an underspend on a pilot youth employment project in Ballymun after it was revealed last week that not all available funds were drawn down.

Cllr Noel Rock (FG) and Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) claimed that €100,000 of just over €300,000 earmarked for the Ballymun Youth Guarantee project wasn’t used.

However, the Department of Social Protection said no definitive figures were available as accounts are still being finalised, but it estimated the figure will be closer to €50,000.

The EU Commission allocated funds of up to €250,000 for the project with the Government providing the rest.

Last week a conference in Ballymun on the scheme, which finished last December, heard that 600 young jobseekers in Ballymun were supported into jobs, work experience, education or training during the course of the project.

The scheme has been hailed as a success with recent CSO figures showing a drop of 29 per cent in youth unemployment in Ballymun compared to just under 19 per cent nationally.

Cllr Rock said that while it was clear that the Youth Guarantee had worked, he described the underspend as “a missed opportunity”.

“It’s clear that the Youth Guarantee is working for Ballymun and is helping its young people find employment – and credit where credit’s due to all stakeholders involved,” he said.

“However, it’s also clear that a ball has been dropped here. Under no circumstances should we be allowing European funds flow back into the coffers in Brussels.

“They should be kept in Ballymun. This is a great shame and a missed opportunity for the area.”

Cllr Reilly believed the return of any funds was “nothing short of mismanagement”.

“It is shocking that some of the meagre funds allocated to the Youth Guarantee scheme will be returned to Europe,” she said.

“Sinn Féin has said from the very offset that there was not enough funding allocated to the Youth Guarantee in Ballymun.

“Lone parents who make up over 40 per cent of families in Ballymun were excluded from the scheme as well as those not on the live register.

“The Government needs now to commence an independent review of the programme and determine why we are in a situation where we are handing back funds from an area where employment is above the national average.”

The Department of Social Protection said the project had been well managed and would come in under budget.

“The funding was allocated under tightly prescribed headings,” a spokesperson said.

“Just over €120,000 was earmarked for project administration, evaluation and information dissemination, with the balance available for necessary external expertise, supports and services.

“The additional funding was used to address gaps and support new innovative approaches.

“It was not necessary to draw down all of the potential funding available.”

Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton, said the pilot Youth Guarantee project in Ballymun was important in finding ways to address youth unemployment nationally as well as locally.

“We will use the lessons learned in Ballymun to further shape the nationwide rollout of the Youth Guarantee and improve our offering for young people,” she said.

“The early signs are encouraging.

“Of every 10 young people in Ballymun who received a formal offer, six were offered further education or training, and four work experience or employment.

“The objective for us now is to take the lessons from Ballymun and improve our services, both locally and nationally, so that we can further reduce youth unemployment and give our young people the opportunities they deserve to build productive careers.”

The Tánaiste also welcomed a new agreement between the Department of Social Protection and Dublin Chamber of Commerce to pilot an employer engagement liaison that’s designed to make it as easier for employers to hire off the Live Register.

“Lone parents who make up over 40 per cent of families in Ballymun were excluded from the scheme as well as those not on the live register.

“The Government needs now to commence an independent review of the programme and determine why we are in a situation where we are handing back funds from an area where employment is above the national average.”

The Department of Social Protection said the project had been well managed and would come in under budget.

“The funding was allocated under tightly prescribed headings,” a spokesperson said.

“Just over €120,000 was earmarked for project administration, evaluation and information dissemination, with the balance available for necessary external expertise, supports and services.

“The additional funding was used to address gaps and support new innovative approaches. It was not necessary to draw down all of the potential funding available.”

Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton, said the pilot Youth Guarantee project in Ballymun was important in finding ways to address youth unemployment nationally as well as locally.

“We will use the lessons learned in Ballymun to further shape the nationwide rollout of the Youth Guarantee and improve our offering for young people,” she said.

“The early signs are encouraging. Of every 10 young people in Ballymun who received a formal offer, six were offered further education or training, and four work experience or employment.

“The objective for us now is to take the lessons from Ballymun and improve our services both locally and nationally so that we can further reduce youth unemployment and give our young people the opportunities they deserve to build productive careers.”

The Tánaiste also welcomed a new agreement between the Department of Social Protection and Dublin Chamber of Commerce to pilot an employer engagement liaison to make it as easier for employers to hire off the Live Register.