Government to get EU €63m to help youth find work

The Government has been allocated over €63m by the EU to help with its youth employment initiative and is expected to double that amount with money it receives from the Social Fund.

The sums will be available immediately, with the Government urged to spend it on ensuring that everyone under 25 is in education, training, or employment within four months. Ireland has one of the highest rates of youth unemployment at 29%.

The EU and the troika have been pushing the Government to change the welfare system to ensure people do not receive support unless they agree to apprenticeships or further training.