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

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.

More than 11,000 young people across the country are long-term unemployed, according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Protection.

Charities have today called for a restoration of funding for community services and supports.

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.

Youth unemployment is still double the rate it was at the start of the recession, it has emerged.

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.

Extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couples has been backed by the National Youth Council of Ireland. The endorsement came as Taoiseach Enda Kenny urged a large turnout for the May 22 poll as Government sources expressed jitters over a drift to the no side in the marriage equality referendum.

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.

Alcohol manufacturers spent almost €24m last year on advertising, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.

Government plans to create jobs and provide training for the country’s unemployed youth should get an unexpected boost with an advance of around €40m from the EU.

The number of young voters failing to register is on the increase, a survey has found.

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.

The Tánaiste will lead a conference in Dublin today which hopes to work out how the EU's €6bn fund can be used to bring down youth unemployment.

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

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.

Rising emigration is slowing population growth here, it has emerged.

The National Youth Council of Ireland is disappointed with the announcements in today's Budget for education, training and support for young people.

COUNCILLORS in Cork city will be urged to support a motion calling on the Justice Minister to ban burkas and give gardaí the power to order youths to remove their hoodies.

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.

A new survey reveals 70% of young unemployed people are likely to emigrate by next year.

CUTS to welfare recipients will have a knock-on effect on consumer spending and result in even more job losses and a further shrinking of the economy, it was claimed last night.

The National Youth Council of Ireland has said it is "disappointed" with the amount of extra training places announced in today's Budget by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.

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

There has been more reaction from interest groups around the country.

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.

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

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.

AN POST could be hauled before the courts and fined under a get-tough blitz on Ireland’s below-par postal service.

AER LINGUS yesterday announced fuel surcharges would increase to as much as €90 on key transatlantic routes — the second rise by the airline in two months.

SHOPPERS are paying up to 30% more for clothes because retailers are failing to pass on the massive savings they are making on sterling.

CUSTOMERS are hunting out cheaper groceries after a report showed they could slash their weekly bills if they shopped around.

IRISH consumers will be paying almost double the calling rates of their British counterparts when Apple’s iPhone mobile phone goes on sale here next week.

TICKETMASTER is raking in money from sold-out concerts by re-selling tickets on its own auction website — despite condemning fans for doing the same a year ago.

CONSUMERS had to swallow rises of up to 50% in the price of basic foodstuffs last year.

CONSUMER champions yesterday lashed the insurance industry for the length of time firms take to pay compensation to accident victims.