Youth

With over 40% of the population under 25 years of age the 26 Counties has the youngest population in the EU. According to recent figures, almost 62,000 people between 18 and 25 years of age are signing on the live register. While unemployment rates have decreased over the past three years Youth Unemployment is still running at twice the rate of unemployment for those over 25.

• Real jobs and quality education and training should be provided for young people. They should not be forced into dead end schemes to massage the unemployment figures
• Sinn Fein will oppose any diminishing of a young persons social welfare entitlements
• Funding for youth services and recreation facilities should be increased
• Given the decline in the turn out of young voters in recent years, Sinn Fein supports the holding of elections on a weekend to facilitate the participation of students