merrion street

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton today launched ‘Feeding Ireland’s Future’, an initiative by the Irish food and grocery industry to help support young unemployed people, at the offices of PwC. It will involve food and grocery companies and service providers to the sector throughout Ireland providing free pre-employment skills for young people during a designated ‘Skills for Work Week’ in March this year.

The initiative is being promoted by ECR Ireland, with the support of its members, in partnership with the Department of Social Protection through its Intreo service. According to the latest Live Register figures, the percentage of young people on the live register in December 2013 was 15%. Whilst this is down from 17.1% in December 2011, responding to this situation is a key priority for the Government.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said:

The skills mix of young people seeking jobs is vast. We need to offer a diversity of options for young jobseekers because they are not an homogenous group. We have young people with significant qualifications but who lack work experience and others who left school early and have few if any qualifications but who may possess an aptitude which would be of immense benefit to any employer. Their needs are very different and we have to provide for this diversity of needs. This Initiative is a key component in meeting those needs.

Read the full press release

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