I thank the Deputy very much for her important question. The programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth and competitiveness. I am pleased to report that the Irish labour market saw sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers last year, indicative of a resilient performance. In total, over 2.8 million people are now employed in Ireland, with employment up 61,500 on average in the first nine months of the year and with the pace of job creation slowing as the year progressed. Ireland’s labour market performance compares very favourably with the performances of our European counterparts. Ireland’s youth unemployment rate, at 14% as of December, is well below the rates of our European peers, namely 15.2% in the EU and 14.8% in the euro area. That said, we are continuing to monitor the unemployment rate. Several of the Government’s initiatives will be central in this regard, not least our ambitious investment plans and, of course, the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, published last year by the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. The Government remains fully committed to improving our competitive position to add more jobs in the future. The action plan has a range of measures to address and build a more resilient economy. Another important document will be the successor strategy to Pathways to Work 2021-2025, which is overseen by the Department of Social Protection. In fact, the Department has concluded public consultation on this as we look to develop a new strategy. The programme for Government was clear on our ambition here, which is to create 300,000 additional jobs by 2030.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I thank the Deputy. As she will hear in my response, I acknowledge the fact, laid out in the CSO data, that there is a clear rise in youth unemployment, with the unemployment rate pertaining to young people between the ages of 15 and 24 having risen to 14% in quarter 3 of 2025 from 11.5% a year previously. This compares to a more modest rise in unemployment among our older cohort, from 3.4% to 3.9% among those aged 25 to 74. I acknowledge that. However, there is a strong underlying demographic effect within the labour force survey numbers, reflecting high inflows into the labour force from those born in 2007. The employment rate of those aged 15 to 24 years is more volatile and subject to seasonal fluctuations. The CSO has told us that the 15- to 24-year-old age group accounts for 15% of employment, a ratio that is unchanged in a decade, although that is not to say it is acceptable. However, the same cohort now accounts for nearly one third of unemployment, up a quarter from a decade ago. With regard to graduates or educational attainment, for those aged 15 to 24, unemployment has increased by 9,500 persons but the vast majority of this was accounted for by those with levels of education at secondary level or below.

Sentiment score: -0.03

Pathways to Work, as a national employment strategy, addresses the key targets, as the Deputy has laid out. The key target strategy includes: supporting 75,000 long-term unemployed into employment by May and reducing long-term unemployment by 2.5% of the labour force by 2025; reducing youth unemployment to below its 2019 average of 12.5%; ensuring better labour market outcomes for those most at risk of poverty, including lone parents and people with disabilities; and improving labour market transitions by reducing the rate at which the newly employed progress into longer-term employment. I acknowledge there is a challenge and a difficulty. However, it is fair to say that the strategies are in place and are a key target for us.

Sentiment score: 0.01