Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:183. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on youth unemployment; if he has plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 February 2026
Ceisteanna (183)
Freagraí scríofa
The recent publication of the Labour Force Survey from the CSO showed that Youth Unemployment in Q4 2025 was 9.8%, down slightly from Q4 2024 when it was 9.9%.
My Department is committed to supporting and improving the capacity of young people to take up employment, education and training opportunities that can enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income to support themselves and their families into the future.
Intreo, the Public Employment Service provides nationwide support to jobseekers through a structured and mandatory engagement process that offers tailored, individualised employment support. Jobseekers deemed most distant from the labour market and those aged under 30 years of age are engaged with more immediately and more frequently.
The performance of the labour market overall is monitored by my Department, through its Labour Market Updates, quarterly publications which examine emerging labour market trends, as well as publications from the Central Bank of Ireland, the Department of Finance and the ESRI. These are used by the Labour Market Advisory Council and independent policy experts to assess emerging trends and issues affecting the labour market and to determine how best to respond to key issues.