An employment strategy targeted at the most marginalised young people in Irish society will be announced by Minister for Children Dr James Reilly today.
The Youth Employability Strategy will see funding to youth services across the State to help those in the 15 to 24 age group with low levels of education or formal learning.
A source in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs said that a "level of funding" would be announced, "to assist this group to access training and entrance to the labour force".
The strategy will be among the measures contained in a new five-year policy document on the 10 to 24 age category, being published today.
The National Youth Strategy (NYS), is the first of its kind in the State, and will set out 50 actions to be delivered between now and 2017, in the areas of physical and mental health, education and learning, staying safe, economic security and being connected to and respected in society.
“While it is a universal strategy for all young people, it provides for the needs of young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, poorer outcomes,” the strategy says.
It identifies Government and statutory bodies, as well as NGOS, that will be tasked with delivering these actions, and seeks to link youth policy in the State with EU policies on young people.
Youth population
One-third of the Irish population is under the age of 25, with people aged 10 to 24 accounting for 18 per cent of the State’s population.
While more than 90 per cent of young people complete second-level education, and half progress to third-level, 24 per cent of the 15-24 age group were unemployed last year, while 14 per cent were living in consistent poverty.
Among its 50 actions, the NYS will develop “a national system for the recognition of non-formal and informal learning”, in line with EU recommendations “on the validation” of informal learning.
Other priorities will be:
- Training parents in online safety for their children, as well educating young people about staying safe online;
- Promoting youth entrepreneurship initiatives in schools;
- Developing a national obesity action plan for young people, and
- Promoting quality, online mental health services for young people.
