Youth Unemployment: Rural Areas
Agriculture and Rural Development
2:30 pm
Daithí McKay (Sinn Féin)
4. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on what her Department is doing to address youth unemployment in rural areas. (AQO 2272/11-15)
Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
Through the tackling poverty and social isolation framework, my Department is supporting two rural youth initiatives aimed at increasing employability and promoting entrepreneurship among the young unemployed in rural areas. Through the youth employability programme — marketed as BOOST — unemployed rural young people will have the opportunity to develop skills, to increase their employability and to improve their chances of securing a job. The programme includes face-to- face workshops, an interactive support package, access to a network of employment mentors and the provision of industry-endorsed certification from the Federation of Small Businesses on completion. Boost will target almost 1,500 unemployed young people by working with partner agencies such as the job centre networks, libraries, the Rural Development Council, the rural support networks, local action groups, local councils, the enterprise agencies, rural colleges and sports centres.
I am also supporting the rural youth entrepreneurship (RYE) programme, which aims to develop business potential among vulnerable young people in rural areas. These areas will be identified using multiple deprivation criteria and will recruit 600 vulnerable young people onto the programme by undertaking various outreach events and workshops in the areas identified. The RYE programme will create the foundations for the development of future rural businesses through upskilling, networking, mentoring and the sharing of ideas to stimulate business creation.
I am confident that these innovative initiatives will help to address the problem of youth unemployment in rural areas and, in doing so, also help to reduce rural youth migration and increase the sustainability of rural communities.
Daithí McKay (Sinn Féin)
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answer. Such work is important if we are to arrest the problems around emigration that affect many rural communities, particularly those families steeped in the construction sector tradition. What areas will be targeted through these programmes and how will they be targeted?
Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. The Member is absolutely right: a lot of our communities are being emptied out, with young people travelling to different countries just to get work. Barry McElduff would support me in that. We know of many rural communities in Tyrone that would have problems even fielding a GAA club team. Those are the issues that we need to address. The rural youth employability programme, Boost, will target 1,500 unemployed young people in rural areas right across the North. That programme will include a marketing and promotion campaign in rural areas, through which Advantage will engage with more than 350 partner agencies, such as those outlined in my initial answer.
It is important that we work in partnership with all the groups that have an interest in maintaining rural communities. Everybody has a role to play, particularly local councils, enterprise agencies, rural cottage industries, etc. They will also really help us to target young people who are in their agencies and coming to their services. Through those agencies, we have the opportunity to disseminate all the information throughout the rural network and make sure that it is readily available.
The rural youth entrepreneurship programme will target young people living in deprived rural areas across the North. Those areas were identified by the Rural Development Council using the multiple deprivation criteria. The RDC proposed to recruit 600 vulnerable young people to the programme by undertaking various outreach events in workshops in identified areas.
Lord Morrow (DUP)
What is the Minister’s rationale in deciding to support an eating disorders clinic at Tullyallen Road, Dungannon, and to throw the weight of her Department behind this controversial planning application?
Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I fail to see what the supplementary question has to do with the main question.
Joanne Dobson (UUP)
Given the unique difficulties that those living in rural communities already have to overcome, such as reduced public transport connections and the distance to many basic services, will the Minister give her assessment of the importance that adequate primary school provision offers to the sustainability of the local community? Is she concerned about the Education Minister’s feared plan to close many rural schools, regardless of individual circumstances, under the cover of the much-disputed viability audit?
Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. The rural White Paper action plan is a key document in addressing the varied needs of a rural community, moving forward. It is an Executive initiative, led by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, that looks at all the issues, particularly those of rural transport, rural unemployment, education and all other services. This week, I will officially launch the rural White Paper action plan, which shows key Executive commitments from all the other Ministers, because looking after rural communities is the remit of not just this Department but all Departments.
The Education Minister is committed to making sure that he looks after young people who live in rural communities. He is very committed to making sure that he looks at rural communities’ needs, which is why he argued very strongly that setting the criteria should not be a numbers game and that all the other factors should be taken into account, particularly the links with the local community. That is because, quite often, a school can be the centre of a rural community. So, I am not fearful for the future of rural primary schools, and I think that the criteria are there to make sure that they are looked after.
Thank you very much, Mr speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in..." class="glossary">Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for her replies so far. Given the high numbers of young people across Northern Ireland who are NEET, is your Department doing anything to target them by increasing the number of on-farm job opportunities for young people who are interested in farming?
Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)
We have a particular strategy, and you will be aware that our agriculture and food colleges are oversubscribed by young people who want to work in the industry. So, I think that that is key to the success of the industry. The Agri-food Strategy Board, which has now been established, is looking at the key challenges for the entire industry and each of its sectors. The board will also look at young people’s skills and employment needs. So, although we have a programme of work, I think that there is still lots to be done. We now have an economic strategy, and I will do my bit to tackle rural unemployment, particularly by working with young people. I think that the Executive can collectively make a difference.