Unemployed Young People Cannot Wait Two Years For Tracking System

SDLP Employment and Learning Spokesperson Pat Ramsey has urged the Employment and Learning Minister to 'look again' at the NEETs Strategy after it was revealed any tracking system will not be ready until 2014.

The Foyle MLA said: "There are large sections of the Strategy which was announced today that I am fully supportive of - the extension of Education Maintenance Allowance to pre-vocational scheme attendees for example, will have a positive effect on many young people who are currently not engaged with mainstream education. I also welcome the provision of the community family support programme, this cross-departmental aspect of the Strategy to ensure that support is fed through from earliy intervention through to ensuring that barriers to education, employment and training are addressed is a positive step forward.

"That having been said, I am extremely disappointed that a new tracking system - something which the DEL Committee had discussed two years ago - will not be in place until 2014. This system is essential to monitor the support given to young people and to prevent many falling into the NEET category by ensuring that employability and skills are addressed and so that the Department can address specific demographics in need.

"The Minister replied in the Assembly that there are 'bureaucratic issues' around getting the tracking system up and running - there are little bureaucratic issues when it comes to the decision of thousands of young people to emigrate from our shores - we cannot wait two years for a system to be implemented that will then have been four years in the offing.

"The Minister needs to look at the proposals again and ensure that we get a feasible, working system in place as soon as is practically possible."

(CD/GK)