Local Fine Gael Cllr Neale Richmond has welcomed the launch of another set of Fine Gael proposals to create jobs for under 25s.
“Hope for a Lost Generation”, which was launched this week by Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesperson, Leo Varadkar TD, will target youth unemployment and reduce the number of young people on the Live Register by one third over the next year.
Cllr Richmond said: “Young people are the real victims of the economic catastrophe that has hit this country as a result of Fianna Fáil’s failed economic policies. The number of people under the age of 25 on the Live Register has increased from 33,900 in October 2007 to 87,100 in October 2009, which is a 155% increase. One third of men under the age of 25 are now on the dole.
“Fine Gael’s proposals will bring 30,000 young people off the Live Register. It will create: 13,000 graduate internship placements, 10,000 second chance education scheme placements, 5,000 extra Community Employment Scheme (CES) places and 10,000 jobs will be retained through a Government supported workshare scheme.
“Fine Gael’s pro jobs approach to the Budget is very different to Fianna Fáil. The Budget should be used as a chance to deliver pro jobs, pro enterprise policies so that we can get our country back to work.
“Fine Gael’s job proposals, which are targeted and specific to our needs, are what is required to get us out of this economic mess.”