Youth Unemployment
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

I thank the Deputy. I confirm that we are monitoring all AI developments very closely. We are doing so in the context of developing the successor strategy to Pathways to Work. That strategy will include priorities for younger people. We expect it will be published in quarter 2 of this year.
We have made some changes. I particularly draw the attention of the Deputy to the changes in Tús. The Tús work placement scheme is being extended to 18-year-olds who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or who are the beneficiaries of temporary protection, and those people who are assessed as having a low probability of being able to access work in the open labour market after they meet an employment personal adviser. Some 150 people have availed of this option and it is already being found to be particularly effective following a review undertaken jointly by us, the OECD and the European Commission. We will explore the potential for it to expand, with a specific focus on those who may have difficulties in securing employment.
Our teams in Intreo are engaging closely and intensely with younger jobseekers to try to get them onto courses and into supports at the youngest possible age to avoid the chances of them being detached from the labour market.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26