Youth Guarantee Plan broadly welcomed by Youth Council

More clarity needed on how much consists of existing provision and what represents new places

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), the umbrella body that represents youth organisations, has welcomed the Government report on the implementation of the youth guarantee scheme published today (28.01.14).

Speaking at the launch of the report James Doorley, NYCI deputy director said:

“We welcome the publication of this report, as it is the first time since the crisis began in 2008 that a comprehensive package of measures to tackle youth unemployment has been put together in one coherent plan.”

“We welcome also the commitment to provide young people with a personal progression plan, which is to include a one-to-one interview to discuss their existing qualifications and identify further needs with a particular focus on those most at risk of long-term unemployment.”

“However, it is not clear from the document how much of the package that has been announced comes from existing provision, and how much represents new places and resources.”

“We are also disappointed that there is no explicit reference to the role of youth work in addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged young people and those furthest from the labour market.”

“It is vital that we now move to implementation of this plan, while ensuring that it is sufficiently resourced to provide quality opportunities for those that need them most,” concluded Mr Doorley.

The NYCI was among the first in Ireland to recommend examination of a youth guarantee scheme in February 2011.

ENDS

Contact: Daniel Meister, Communications Manager at NYCI: 087 781 4903, 01-478 4122 or communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland
NYCI is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth organisations working with over 380,000 young people, and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
www.youth.ie

NYCI Infographic Factsheet: Youth Guarantee
https://www.youth.ie/sites/youth.ie/files/NYCI_051_A4_accessible.pdf

The NYCI was among the first in Ireland to recommend examination of a youth guarantee scheme in February 2011
https://www.youth.ie/sites/youth.ie/files/Creating-a-future-for-Young-jobseekers-web-version_0.pdf

(page 43).

https://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/Youth-Guarantee-Implementation-Plan.pdf