Last week Deirdre Clune TD (FG spokesperson on innovation) press released on youth unemployment.

“The latest CSO live register figures confirm that unemployment is the single greatest challenge facing us as a nation. Youth unemployment continues to be a major problem that will have long-term consequences if it is not tackled now.

“Since the Fianna Fáil/Green Government came into office in June 2007 unemployment among under-25 year olds has jumped from 33,872 to 84,398. The Government has become obsessed with the banking and fiscal crises and is ignoring the jobs and competitiveness crisis.

“Youth Work Ireland published their Voices of Youth Poll in December showing the impact this is having on young Irish people. The poll of 1,029 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 revealed that 59.8% expected to be unemployed after finishing their education while 47.6% expected to emigrate after finishing their education.

“Fine Gael is the only Party to offer plans to tackle youth unemployment:

• Our NewERA stimulus package, employment-focused tax cuts and support for small businesses will help reduce unemployment across all age profiles;
• Our Hope for a Lost Generation policy will directly target youth unemployment with workshare schemes like those in Germany and the US, a National Internship Programme and by increasing the number of places available on further education and retraining programmes.
“An entire generation of young Irish people now believe that unemployment and emigration lie in store for them in the future. This is the real legacy of Brian Cowen and his Fianna Fáil/Green Government. If the prospect of long-term youth unemployment and emigration is to be avoided the Government must adopt policies like those proposed by Fine Gael.�

Cllr Simon Harris (Wicklow- FG) also press released on youth unemployment last week and it was covered on the Greystones Guide.

“The latest CSO live register figures confirm that unemployment is the single greatest challenge facing us as a nation. Youth unemployment continues to be a major problem that will have long-term consequences if it is not tackled now,” said Councillor Harris.

“Since the Fianna Fáil/Green Government came into office in June 2007 unemployment among under-25 year olds has jumped from 33,872 to 84,398. The Government is ignoring the jobs and competitiveness crisis – this is having a very worrying effect on the job prospects for my young constituents throughout County Wicklow,” continued Councillor Harris.
“Youth Work Ireland published their Voices of Youth Poll in December showing the impact this is having on young Irish people. The poll of 1,029 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 revealed that 59.8% expected to be unemployed after finishing their education while 47.6% expected to emigrate after finishing their education.

“Fine Gael is the only Party to offer plans to tackle youth unemployment:
• Our NewERA stimulus package, employment-focused tax cuts and support for small businesses will help reduce unemployment across all age profiles;
• Our Hope for a Lost Generation policy will directly target youth unemployment with workshare schemes like those in Germany and the US, a National Internship Programme and by increasing the number of places available on further education and retraining programmes.

“An entire generation of young Irish people now believe that unemployment and emigration lie in store for them in the future. This is the real legacy of Brian Cowen and his Fianna Fáil/Green Government. If the prospect of long-term youth unemployment and emigration is to be avoided the Government must adopt policies like those proposed by Fine Gael. Now is the time for action to get young people in Wicklow and around the country back to work,” concluded Councillor Harris.

Share and share alike? Or a case of the Terence Flanagans? (Loved the insertion of Wicklow!)

Other examples of this energy saving tactic from around the country are of course very welcome!