Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
175. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide an update on the targeted youth employability support initiative; to detail the impact measurement tool that is being developed; the timeline for the trial and evaluation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10939/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative is delivered through 18 services managed by youth organisations and supported by education and training boards. The aim of the TYESI is to engage and support the harder to reach young people aged 15 to 24 years who are not in employment, education, or training. The focus of the initiative is on soft skills and developing these in relation to employability. The TYESI focuses on improving outcomes for young people in communication skills, confidence, agency, resilience and determination.
The focused interventions are intended to provide community-based support to assist young people to attain a level of confidence and agency to engage in a wide range of currently available progression routes, programmes or services, for example: Youthreach, Community Training Centres, Community Employment Schemes, Traineeships, Apprenticeships, Pathways to Work and/or progress into employment. The current cycle will run until year end 2027.
An evaluation of the previous TYESI delivered between mid-2021 and end of 2022 recommended that the department co-design a suitable measurement tool and to embed impact measurement to include participant-focused measures which could significantly enhance the evaluation process. The evaluation also recommended adopting a digital tool to record and track participant progress.
Throughout 2025, the department engaged with Maynooth University, the TYESI youth workers and managers, ETB youth officers and young people, both former participants and current participants, to develop a suitable impact measurement tool. The digital impact measurement tool was trialled by young people during 2025 to ensure the language was appropriate, the tool was easy to access and the information being asked was relevant and necessary. The feedback from young people directly informed a revised tool which has now been finalised and is accompanied by a user guide.
It is intended that a trial will begin in the coming weeks and run throughout 2026. An evaluation of the tool will be undertaken following the trial period which will feed into an evaluation of the overall initiative in 2027.
