Young people are snapping up apprenticeships, availing of the chance to “earn and learn” across a range of skills areas not usually associated with the in-house training model.

Youth unemployment has a “scarring effect”, with almost 6,000 young Irish people being long-term unemployed for 12 months or more.

A €22m investment in apprenticeships — including animation and horticulture along with the more traditional trades — would halve long-term youth unemployment by the end of 2019, it has been claimed.

A bill which would reduce the voting age for local and European elections to 16 is due before the Seanad today.

“Just be realistic here, because this actually does happen, I’m seen as a nigger... seen as a monkey... We get called these names. That even if it’s not on a daily basis, at least once a week. I’m just saying this actually does go on and you’re not taking it seriously.”

People on zero-hour contracts or similar work situations are so financially precarious some are avoiding going to the doctor or delaying having children.

Almost half of those aged 18 to 29 are working on non-standard contracts, prompting calls for more efforts to provide greater job security for millennials.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has recommended that Budget 2018 restore the last 200 out of the 600 guidance counselling posts lost to secondary schools in 2012.

The number of people on the Live Register fell to its lowest level since 2008 in July, according to latest figures from the CSO.

The National Youth Council of Ireland has called for a €30 million package to tackle the high rate of youth unemployment after EU figures showed almost a fifth of young Irish people are not in education, work or training.

Some 59,000 young people are being reminded to register to vote.

Budget 2016 was drawn up to keep the economic recovery going, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has claimed.

Labour TDs have hailed a 50c increase in the minimum wage as a major victory, despite trade unions pushing for a bigger boost to €10 an hour.

Downward unemployed figures are masking a rise in youth joblessness that should prompt Government action, says the National Youth Council of Ireland.

People of all ages have been urged to vote in today’s referenda or someone else will get to make their decision for them at the ballot box.

Diageo-funded campaign should be wound up and legislators need, for once, to put health of citizens ahead of interests of drinks industry, says James Doorley.

The Department of Social Protection has been accused of ignoring JobBridge interns’ genuine concerns after rejecting calls to double the money they receive, claiming the State cannot afford the increase.

The Department of Social Protection will “consider” calls to reform the controversial JobBridge scheme in a review later this year — but has failed to give a straight answer to key recommendations put forward by an independent report.

Thousands of young unemployed people are being driven into debt and unable to move out of their family homes because of cuts to their social welfare payments, a poll suggests.

In a week that will culminate, in Scotland at least, with the most profound and far-reaching  expression  of democracy,  it is disheartening to learn that nearly one-in-three - 30% - of   Irish people aged between 18 and  25 are not registered to vote.

Most people emigrating from Ireland are employed workers or fresh graduates, creating concerns of a skills shortage as the economy begins to recover.

More than €127m is available from the EU to help get young Irish people into work — but so far, schemes are being delayed partly because of equality legislation.

Almost one in five young people (18%) in Ireland are experiencing serious deprivation.

Cuts to dole payments of one third for newly unemployed young people have been defended by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.

The National Youth Council has warned young people will suffer if the Government continues to focus on austerity.

Should I leave or should I stay and fight for the meagre career crumbs that will become increasingly difficult to find, asks Carlynn McCarthy

Many young people who have emigrated over the past two years say they are speaking more frequently with their parents now than when they lived in Ireland.

WITH Ireland’s youth unemployment rate now the second highest in western Europe, a report has recommended a number of key measures to get young people back to work.

YOUNG people are disengaged with politics.

SEVEN out of 10 jobseekers aged under 25 believe they will emigrate over the next year because of poor employment prospects in the Republic.

THERE has been much comment on the burden we as a State are passing onto our children and young people, as a result of the momentous decisions taken in recent weeks to seek international financial assistance.

Up 58,000 jobseekers aged 18-25 may emigrate in the next 12 months, according to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NCYI).

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has said it opposes the slashing of Jobseeker’s Allowance to "a paltry" €100 for young people aged 20 to 21 and €150 to those between 22 to 24 who are unemployed.

RECENT government actions to tackle the recession are encouraging young people to emigrate rather than stay in Ireland.

ONE in three people between the ages of 18 and 21 are not registered to vote, research reveals.

POORER students at schools not officially recognised as disadvantaged will be discriminated against by the budget’s education cutbacks, it has been claimed.

Today’s announcement by the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan to increase mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers has been welcomed by the National Youth Council of Ireland.

MOTOR insurance premiums are down and claims are being settled in less time and at less cost than before, despite an increase in the frequency of road traffic accidents.

Concerns were raised today about the inequality experienced by young people who are stereotyped by adults.