Government accused of 'sleepwalking' through the youth unemployment crisis

Sinn Féin youth affairs spokesperson has called for action from government on youth unemployment which has swollen to almost 60,000.

The call was made by Cavan based senator, Kathryn Reilly, in advance of a private members motion debate on the youth unemployment crisis in the Seanad, initiated by the Sinn Fein Seanad team.

Senator Reilly said: “The government is sleepwalking through the youth unemployment crisis. Now, 58,000 young people are officially unemployed. Many thousands more have emigrated or disengaged from employment services.

“Since Fine Gael and Labour took office the number of under-25s in the labour force has fallen by 34,500.

“Despite these stark figures the government has no plan to tackle the youth unemployment problem. In the Action Plan on Jobs launched in February youth unemployment hardly featured.

“Our private members motion, due to be debated today, calls on the government to urgently develop and resource a youth employment strategy.

“A central part of this strategy must be a high quality youth guarantee scheme that provides young people with an offer of employment, education, apprenticeship or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed.

“A youth guarantee scheme must be adequately funded, accessible to all, target those in greatest need and work in the interests of young people.

“We have heard enough rhetoric from this government about the jobs crisis. What young people need now is action.”