Download - Youth Unemployment Proposals
Combating
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Combating Youth UnemploymentOpportunities and Challenges
mployment and Challenges for Ireland
February 2010
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Contents
Preface
Executive Summary
Youth Unemployment in Ireland, Consequences & Characteristics
Proposals
1. Supporting Graduates
Public Sector Work Experience Programme
Work Experience and Placement
Reforms in Third Level Education supports
2. Creating and Securing Jobs
Supporting Private Enterprise
Supporting Entrepreneurship
Job Sharing Scheme
3. Training, Skills and Local Communities
Reform of employment and training supports
Society, Community and Voluntary Experience
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Preface
It is with great pleasure today that I launch ‘Combating Youth Unemployment’,
an Ógra Fianna Fáil document of proposals to combat this pressing concern.
Youth unemployment presents a great challenge for Ireland in 2010, with one
third of people under the age of 25 out of work and youth emigration at its
highest level in a generation.
Today, Ógra Fianna Fáil is contributing a number of proposals to help combat
the effects of youth unemployment. Ógra recognises the serious financial
situation the State finds itself in today, and the policies proposed here are
largely cost neutral.
In developing its proposals Ógra Fianna Fáil looked at a range of policy
options used in other jurisdictions around the world. The measures proposed
are largely complementary to the re-negotiated Programme for Government
and are in line with current Government fiscal strategy.
Finally, I’d like to thank John Regan Ógra Policy Coordinator, Joseph O’Neill
Leas Cathaoirleach and members of the National Youth Committee for
compiling this important document. Young people have an important role to
play and I know that Government is already considering some of the
proposals contained herein.
Thomas Byrne T.D.
Cathaoirleach
Ógra Fianna Fáil
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Executive Summary
Over the past decade, the Irish government led by Fianna Fáil, have presided
over a dynamic economy undergoing rapid change. The recent international
downturn, credit crisis and domestic construction bubble collapse have dashed
the hope of many young people.
In the following sections, we are proposing some new schemes and reforms
that we believe would be in the best interests of young people in Ireland. The
sections have been divided up as follows: Supporting graduates; Creating and
securing Jobs; Education, Training and the Community.
An important consideration to be borne in mind when assessing policies to
reduce unemployment among young people is cost. Many of the stimulus
proposals currently put forward by the opposition parties and interest groups
would require significant expenditures by the Irish Government.
However, Ógra Fianna Fáil believes the problem of youth unemployment in
Ireland is sufficiently serious to warrant a modest reallocation of funds
towards programs intended to lessen the hardship of unemployment.
Although governments must play a critical role in addressing youth
unemployment, the private sector and community groups can also make a
worthwhile contribution by cooperating with public policy initiatives and by
developing voluntary programs to increase the opportunities available to
young people to gain employment experience.
In this document Ógra Fianna Fáil recommends the following:
- A Public Sector Work experience programme be established
- A Further Education loan scheme be established
- Minimum wages be maintained at existing levels until 2012
- Bankruptcy reforms be introduced to stimulate entrepreneurship
- Reforms to R&D tax credit to promote creation of jobs in R&D
- A radical job sharing scheme to offer an alternative to lay-offs
- FÁS and the VEC system be reformed into a State Training Service.
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Youth Unemployment, Consequences & Characteristics
Youth unemployment1 in Ireland has risen from around 30,000 (’04 – ’07) to
over 100,000 today. Coupled with the rise in unemployment has been a rise in
emigration of young people from 15,000 per annum (’05-’07) to 29,000 (to April
2009, CSO estimate). These figure will likely rise over the coming year as
further people emigrate to take up positions or look for jobs abroad. There may
also be a rise in people returning to the country as foreign working visas come
to an end or are not renewed.
Youth unemployment affects the individual lives of jobless youth, but the
effects transcend the individual. The economic, social and health effects of
youth unemployment affect society on a macro level. The ”collective
wellbeing”, which is families, communities and the nation, suffers as a result of
youth unemployment.
Financial problems are among the most tangible effects of youth
unemployment. Low incomes, coupled with a lack of acquired assets, place
unemployed youth at a high risk of poverty. The cost to individuals,
1 Defined here as being under 25, using CSO statistics (seasonally adjusted)
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All classes
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governments and the rest of society as a result of higher unemployment, lower
incomes and other costs arising from early school leaving in Ireland are
considerable.
Youth is a period of significant change for individuals. It is a time when identity
is formed, independence is often attained and a form of ‘political and civil
citizenship’ is developed. Employment plays a crucial role in these changes.
Independence is directly related to income. Even if individuals are not
dependant on the state, they are usually dependant on family or friends. While
income is important, the psychological benefits that usually accompany
employment are also key factors in this developmental stage. Thus
unemployment becomes a barrier, not only because of financial limitations,
but also because individuals miss out on the sense of personal, social and
adult identity that is derived from employment.
Unemployment and the possible subsequent exclusion from society may
result in low self-esteem, dependence, pessimism, life dissatisfaction,
depression, and/or even suicide. Unemployment has been shown to affect an
individual’s sense of well-being. Many studies have shown the correlations
between ‘unemployment and low life satisfaction, low self-esteem, and high
levels of anxiety, depression and suicide’.2
Two links between unemployment and crime are popularly discussed. One is
the belief that boredom and other situational factors of unemployment increase
opportunity for, and thus likelihood of, criminal activity. Another common view
holds that if needs and wants cannot be sufficiently and legitimately met by
employment, then individuals will seek illegitimate ways to meet these.3
It would be simplistic and overly reductive to argue that unemployment causes
crime in a direct straightforward, without-exception fashion. Unemployment
may be one influence on an individual’s likelihood of undertaking criminal
activity. And, as with other aspects of disadvantage, youth unemployment may
combine with other disadvantaging factors (e.g. socioeconomic disadvantage,
duration of unemployment, prior criminal behaviour, early school leaving and
2 B. Headey, ‘The psychological Impact of Unemployment’, in P. Saunders and R. Taylor (eds), The Price of Prosperity, p. 213. 3 D. Weatherburn, ‘The impact of unemployment on crime’ in P. Saunders and R. Taylor (eds), The Price of Prosperity, pp226- 248.
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weak links to the labour market) to result in criminal activity.
A poor expectation of future employment prospects combined with a period of
unemployment is more likely to result in criminal activity than the combination
of unemployment with more positive expectation of future employment.
For many unemployed youth, the above characteristics may be coupled with
the first significant time in their life course where they are not subject to
supervision and authority. They are without a significant degree of formal
supervision and authority and without ‘place’ and occupation. Unemployed
youth often have little, or no, experience in the labour market. While these
challenges confront unemployed people of all ages, they are particularly
adverse, and may be amplified, for youth.
Once social effects have arisen, it becomes difficult for individuals to overcome
these effects. Consequently, re-employment may be unlikely because of low
self-esteem and isolation. Disillusionment may be such that some youth may
opt out of the labour market altogether. These individuals may not only be
lacking the human capital to gain employment, but also the networks. Youth
who come from households where others are unemployed are less well-
connected to labour markets and potential labour markets. Their knowledge of
paid work and the labour market is understandably limited.
Full-time participation, even in the first year out of school, has been found to
have long-term implications on the labour market outcomes of individuals.
Youth who are unemployed, working part-time and not studying or outside the
labour force in the first year after they leave school are much less likely to
make a successful future transition into full-time employment.
In the long-term, unemployed youth are also more likely to experience low
hourly wages, under-employment, repeated unemployment and increased
periods of unemployment. Unemployed youth are also less likely to find future
employment because of the negative stigma surrounding unemployment.
Future underemployment is known to be another consequence of youth
unemployment. The longer an individual is unemployed the less working hours
they are likely to get in the future and the more likely they will remain
unemployed. Underemployment may entrench individuals in poverty.
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Proposals
Supporting Graduates
Creating and Securing Jobs
Training, Skills and Local
Communities
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Supporting Graduates
1. Public Sector Work Experience Programme
Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing a new work experience programme to support
college graduates and unemployed young people. Ógra Fianna Fáil recognise
that many employers will not be hiring recent and upcoming graduates in
many areas of the Irish economy over the coming year. However, we believe
that when these employers are in a position to hire in the future, they would
most certainly be interested in people who undertook something worthwhile
when opportunities did not allow.
This programme aims to be more than just an internship in the Public Service,
and is aimed at the personal and professional development of Irish graduates
who want to gain experience in the Public Sector (Civil and Public Service).
Participants can be placed across the civil and public service to gain first hand
experience at the work of the Irish Government, Departments or Public
Service bodies. This intensive programme aims to equip the participants with
team working and leadership skills, as well as work experience in their chosen
area. The participants will be teamed up with a senior staff within each
department or body. They will work independently and undertake job sharing.
Participants will also work in teams with other participants on a group project,
which will form an integral part of the Scheme.
It is proposed that this scheme will supplement the existing summer
employment schemes (replacing term time employees). There are currently
250,000 people employed in the Public Service and a further 110,000
employed through the Department of Health and Children, bring the total
number of State employees to 360,000. Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing an
ambitious scheme which will have up to 20,000 participants on a rolling basis,
with programmes lasting 3-12 months each. Participants retain their social
welfare status, but receive the full rate of social welfare payment.
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Each Department and government funded body would have to put forward an
internship programme that meets certain criteria, participation of the
department or body would be mandatory. The number of interns will be
directly linked to staffing levels in the Department or body. A specific number
of interns could be placed in each primary and secondary school, depending
on numbers enrolled and subjects offered. Departments or bodies can
propose internships aimed at specific graduates and broad ranging schemes
where the skills and educational background of each participant will be
matched to the requirements of each section. The selection of participants
would be the responsibility of the Public Appointments Service or the HR
sections of the body.
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2. Work Experience and Placement
Ógra Fianna Fáil has made several submissions to the Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding a work placement scheme in
the past. The Work Placement Programme offers unemployed people,
including unemployed graduates, the opportunity to obtain 6 months work
experience while on a work placement with a company. While on the work
placement participants retain their social welfare status and entitlements. We
welcome the recent reforms that were introduced to the Work Placement
Scheme in November.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are now proposing further changes to the scheme that will
see FÁS removed from this scheme so that employers can interact directly
with potential employees. Currently unemployed people require approval from
FÁS to part-take in this scheme. We propose that unemployment benefits
would act as a voucher system that could be used when taking up such a
position. We are also proposing that young people retain their social welfare
status, but receive the full rate of social welfare payment while part of this
scheme.
Once a Work Placement has been agreed between an employer and
employee, the employer would be required to register this placement with the
Department of Family and Social Affairs. Ógra Fianna Fáil are also proposing
that the three month requirement be removed to allow anyone receiving
benefits to take part in this scheme.
Ógra Fianna Fáil recommends that a database of potential applications be
placed online containing people who are interested in taking part in the Work
Placement Programme. This would allow employers to assess the availability
of the skills they require for their business.
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe work experience has significant advantages for
young people who want to acquire skills in the workplace. One strategy to
improve the employment prospects of young people is to make more use of
work-study or the cooperative education concept. In some university and
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college courses, students spend a portion of their time in work assignments
that may extend over a few weeks or months. This job experience may be
obtained in either public or private sector institutions. Cooperative education
offers many attractions for young prospective workers, and should be used
more extensively. In addition, consideration should be given to greater use of
cooperative education at second level, especially for students unlikely to go
on to formal post-primary education.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing that job experience become a fundamental
part of college courses such as Commerce, Engineering, Science and Social
Science just as is fundamental to students of health science subjects.
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3. Reforms in Third Level Education supports
Educational institutions and FÁS can do a better job of providing young
prospective workers with the kind of information they need to participate
effectively in the labour market, and to make rational educational and career
choices well in advance of taking up a job. This is crucial for young people
and initial entrants into the labour force, who often require career counselling
and placement assistance. Young people must be made aware of current and
projected occupational demands; the need for and availability of
apprenticeships, training and job-related educational programs; and the
techniques for effective job searching. The private sector should cooperate by
making available detailed occupational forecasts and other labour market
information.
Although better information about the labour markets will not solve the present
problem of youth unemployment, it will benefit young people and the economy
as a whole over the medium and long term. Ógra Fianna Fáil are also
recommending that the Departments of Education and Enterprise, Trade and
Employment undertake a study, examining the long-term labour requirements
of each sector of the Irish economy, the availability of such workers and the
skills and training needed to upskill unemployed people to fill such roles in the
future.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing that the government ensure everyone has
access to funds to attend college or further training. The state makes a
significant investment in the third level education of students through the free
fees initiative. However, in order to secure this investment in the human
capital of young people it is necessary to ensure there exists sufficient access
to loanable funds to attend further education courses. When applying to the
CAO, many students will choose degree or diploma courses that may not
have a direct path into a career or are broad in their study. These decisions
are often made at the age of 17 or 18, when young people are undecided
about their chosen career. Many students in these areas then specialise
through graduate courses or conversion courses later in life. These graduate
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courses are expensive and money is usually borrowed, where the student
does not qualify for a maintenance grant.
Given the current state of the banking sector and the level of youth (graduate)
unemployment; Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing the government ensure
everyone has sufficient access to funds to attend a graduate course or further
training. The Department of Education should establish a Graduate and Part-
time students Loan Scheme, allowing students to borrow funds directly from
State institutions at a reasonable rate of interest. The scheme would allow for
deferred payment of 12/24 months and be available to everyone.
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Creating and Securing Jobs
Ógra Fianna Fáil urges the Government not to engage in extensive job
subsidy schemes (PRSI exemptions or wage subsidies) or other blanket
labour market intervention schemes. It is the view of the National Youth
Committee that large-scale interventions in the labour market have limited
success and suffer from deadweight loss and substitution effects. The
McCarthy Report, World Bank and other academic articles support this view.
Similar schemes were used during the 1980’s with little effect, and their
extensive use this time should be avoided. Measures like this, which erode
the tax base and have little effect on employment, are a step in the wrong
direction. However, employment subsidies aimed at the long-term
unemployed or at those sectors of the Irish economy that are vulnerable due
to the weakness of sterling should be supported temporarily through the
downturn.
Ógra Fianna Fáil has been a strong supporter of the National Minimum Wage
since its introduction in 2001. The Minimum Wage is currently €8.65 and is
one of the highest in Europe. It has helped lift thousands of young people and
families out of poverty. Ógra Fianna Fáil rejects suggestions that a broad cut
in the National Minimum Wage would be in the best interest of country.
However we do support the recent changes proposed by the Minister for
Labour regarding Employment Regulation Orders. Ógra Fianna Fáil
recommends that the National Minimum Wage be frozen for 24 months, until
2012.
1. Supporting Private Enterprise
It is the view of the Ógra Fianna Fáil that cutting business costs and the
associated costs of doing business in Ireland would be a preferred way to
support private enterprise.
The best solution to unemployment is sustained economic growth and more
competitive industries. The only basis for long-term job creation can be a
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strong economy. The creation of a climate in which economic and
employment growth will occur must remain the government’s highest priority.
Steps taken by the Government over the past year to promote investment, to
enhance Ireland’s competitiveness, and to improve the fiscal position of the
public sector are welcome steps forward. Success in achieving these
objectives is the best guarantee of future jobs in Ireland. Ógra Fianna Fáil
support the creation of the National Assets Management Agency, the Bank
Guarantee Scheme and bank re-capitalisation. Getting our banks lending to
the public and private enterprise must remain a priority for the Government.
The Government has initiated the Employment Subsidy Scheme to support
the retention of full time and part time jobs in viable enterprises that might
otherwise be made redundant as a result of the impact of the global and
financial economic crises. Employment subsidies of up to €200 per week per
full time employee and €120 per week per part time employee are available
for the first 26 weeks and then on a reducing scale. There is €65 million
available to eligible enterprises. Ógra Fianna Fáil recommend that this
scheme be broadened to include other specific sectors of the Irish economy,
including those engaged in supply to exporting firms and those with a highly
trained workforce.
Ógra Fianna Fáil welcome the proposals made by the Commission on
Taxation regarding the R&D tax credit. We believe businesses should be
allowed to offset the credit against their corporation tax OR employers’ PRSI.
The lack of flexibility regarding the tax credit should be addressed with
immediate effect in the Finance Bill at no additional cost to the State.
Ógra Fianna Fáil urge the government to ensure R&D grants are not cut over
the next few years. In spite of the contraction in the public finances R&D
grants are essential to creating high quality jobs. Maintaining such grants was
key to the Finnish strategy during their banking crisis in 1991. In this regard
we disagree with the views of the McCarthy report calling for a reduction in
research investment. We also recommend that the Strategy for Science,
Technology and Innovation be fully implemented.
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The programme of supports available to entrepreneurs through development
agencies has been a key to Ireland’s success as business hub. A range of
supports are available locally through City and County Enterprise Boards,
regionally and nationally through Enterprise Ireland and other bodies. Ógra
Fianna Fáil are recommending the streamlining of state agencies that support
enterprise (Enterprise Ireland, IDA, County and City Enterprise Boards,
Western Development Commission, Business Innovation Centres and
LEADER) into a single body better aimed at the support of enterprise and
creation of jobs. Merging these bodies would achieve significant savings in
administration and property rental.
Ógra Fianna Fáil also recommends that all business support / innovation
funds be pooled together and simplified for business and potential
entrepreneurs. A rationalization of such funds, with no reduction in the actual
amount spent would produce significant savings in administration.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are calling on the government to assist new and small firms
through changes to government procurement policies. Existing EU rules
provide significant latitude for government to be directive in their procurement
policies in a manner that could benefit new and small Irish firms.
2. Supporting Entrepreneurship
The Total Entrepreneurial Activity index (TEA) for Ireland is 7.6% (2008). This
means that about one in 13 adults of working age in Ireland are currently
engaged in early stage entrepreneurial activity. Ireland is to the fore in Europe
in terms of its entrepreneurial activity rate. The recent decline in the
international and national economy has had a knock on effect on the
entrepreneurial environment and on the opportunities available for
entrepreneurs and new enterprises.
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe the current bankruptcy laws in Ireland are overly
restrictive, outdated and hinder entrepreneurship. Many viable businesses
and entrepreneurs have been hit by the lack of access to credit and the
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banking crisis. These entrepreneurs will play a vital role in the rebuilding of
the Irish economy when economic growth returns.
The European Commission has put forward the position that the legal
systems of EU member states should be more favourable to business start-
ups and should not stigmatise legitimate business failure as this stifles further
entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and fresh
starts should be facilitated. It states that a distinction should be drawn
between fraudulent bankruptcies and non-fraudulent bankruptcies by legal
systems. Legal proceedings should be simplified and made quicker; it
recommends that proceedings should last a maximum of one year.
Individuals who become bankrupt are penalized for 12+ years in Ireland, while
in Britain bankruptcy penalties apply for 12 months. The bankruptcy
procedure in Ireland is unwieldy, expensive and very heavily court controlled.
The contrast with the various flexible and debtor friendly procedures available
in England and Wales could not be starker. This more favourable legislation in
the UK is hindering Irish business creation.
In September 2009, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) produced a
consultation paper on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement that
has made provisional recommendations relating to the reform of bankruptcy
law in Ireland. Ógra Fianna Fáil recommend that these proposals are
implemented as soon as possible.
3. Job Sharing Scheme
Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing a radical job sharing scheme, similar to
WorkShare which exists across the US and in Germany. Under this job
sharing scheme existing employees could be retained by an employer who
has been forced to cut staffing levels. The employer would continue to hire
existing workers on a reduced hours basis to meet the needs of the business.
This reduction in hours could take the form of paid sick days, paid family
leave, shorter working weeks or longer holidays. This would allow the
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employer to retain a experienced skills set within the business and avoid
training costs.
Employees who have their hours and wages reduced would receive a top-up
using their social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Employers who reduce
workers’ hours rather than laying them off could also receive a financial
incentive. Such a job-sharing scheme could be adapted to allow for business
employing new staff as businesses expand.
We believe that the social costs of making 1 in 5 of a firms workers
unemployed is greater than having all workers being underemployed by 20%.
The total gross wage being received by the employee would not exceed €450
under this scheme, and taxes would be paid on the total amount of pay (wage
& contributions top up). The businesses would be required to prove they are
facing a difficult environment and capable of surviving the downturn in
business. Benefits would last for 12 months, and be reviewed every 3 months.
Employees would not have to file a claim or report to an unemployment office
each week to show they’ve been looking for work, since they are still
employed.
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Training, Skills and Local Communities
In addressing the unemployment problem, Ógra Fianna Fáil believe there
must be improvements in the quality of labour market supports and
information. In the case of young people, this might involve more careers
counselling, better placement services, mobility assistance and, above all,
improving skills training. Ógra Fianna Fáil support the recommendations of
the McCarthy “Snip” report in its findings regarding Labour force activation
measures. The report notes the fragmented nature of the State-funded
employment services and recommends a single body be charged with such
responsibilities.
1. Reform of employment and training supports
The Irish government spends over €1 Billion annually on skills training and
development through FÁS. A major concern with recent state training
programs through FÁS has been that they do not reflect conditions prevailing
in the Irish labour market. To a significant extent, people have received skill
training in areas such as construction where jobs are now scarce and are not
likely to materialize in significant numbers in the near future. Steps must be
taken to align government-training programs more appropriately with the
needs of the Irish and European labour markets.
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe that the state should provide additions places in PLC
and further education courses (rather than FÁS) as many existing FÁS
courses do not have certification through the National Framework of
Qualifications. Last year 60,000 jobseekers and school leavers applied for
one of the 30,000 PLC courses available through the VEC. PLC courses offer
students a chance to study for one year and provide an all round education
with a certified qualification at the end. The vast majority of FÁS courses are
shorter and provide no certified qualification at the end. In addition to this,
PLC courses offer students the chance to progress in Higher Education
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courses, while in the main FÁS do not.
It is the view of Ógra Fianna Fáil that FÁS should be merged alongside the
VEC system into a single State Training Service. It is our view that a single
body should be charged with this responsibility and other bodies be
subsumed into the State Training Service or abolished. We are also
recommending that the department responsibility for training, welfare and
social services be conferred on one department, in line with OECD norms.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are also proposing that the Department of Education and
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment come together to provide a
new range of day & evening courses to all adults and unemployed. Such
courses would aim to up-skill everyone in the community and be available to
all at low cost or free to medical card holders. New courses could include
Introductions to Finance, Irish Law (Consumer, Contract etc), Economics,
Business Management, European Languages, International Business and
Environmental Awareness. The teachers required for such courses are
available in the VEC system or through third level institutions. Courses would
range from level 5-7 within the National Qualifications Framework.
Lifelong learning for those in employment is essential for boosting productivity
and enhancing competitiveness (Building Ireland’s Smart Economy report).
The government has committed to providing training for people in employment
through the National Training Fund. Ógra Fianna Fáil are calling on the
government to ensure this fund is used to maximum benefit and that surplus
funds which exist from 2009 (€205 million) should be released over the next
12-18 months.
Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing a change in the dynamic between the Dept of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dept of Education and Science and Dept
of Family and Social Affairs. We are recommending that the position of Junior
Minister for Labour Affairs being reformed to encompass Labour, Education
and Social Welfare with responsibility for the Irish labour force, their training
and welfare needs.
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2. Society, Community and Voluntary Experience
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe that community organisations and voluntary bodies
should be empowered to tackle unemployment directly in their area. Ógra
Fianna Fáil are proposing a new system for the Community Employment
Scheme. This scheme would empower community, voluntary and non-profit
bodies4 to tackle unemployment in their area. These bodies would be allowed
create schemes to undertake tasks in the local community that could
otherwise go undone. Such schemes could cover a broad range of area’s and
target specific types of unemployed people with different backgrounds, skills
etc. Ógra Fianna Fáil recognise that different communities require different
schemes to efficiently tackle youth unemployment. Allowing flexibility in the
type, size and requirements of each scheme will maximise the effectiveness
of these schemes.
These schemes would be submitted to each local authority for initial approval
and oversight, while the administration and management of the schemes
would be the responsibility of the body. The people who apply for these
positions would undergo an initial interview and selection procedures to
ensure those best suited to the proposed scheme are selected. Participants
retain their social welfare status and entitlements.
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe voluntary and community bodies will benefit
significantly from this proposal. Schemes focusing on promoting local tourism,
helping young/older people learn new skills or undertaking tasks which
otherwise go undone in the local community will all help local communities
develop.
Each scheme would be required to submit a detailed proposal to the local
authority for approval. This proposal must state the requirements of each
placement as well as the total number of placements being offered.
4 These could include, but are not limited to the following: Parish groups, voluntary bodies, local Chamber of Commerce, local groups (environmental, tourism, youth, education, health etc.), neighborhood groups and local authorities
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Participants would be required to work 20 hours a week, or 80 hours over a
calendar month if the needs of the body require more flexibility. Participant
bodies cannot be for profit or be in the process of laying off staff.
Ógra Fianna Fáil believe the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht
Affairs should commission a report in how best to promote the use of Social
Enterprise in Ireland. A social enterprise is a business with primarily social
objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the
business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to
maximise profit for shareholders and owners.”