Councillor Declan Hurley

I am very committed to developing and strengthening much needed youth services in West Cork. Youth Cafés, Youth Information and Youth Supports are vital in the development of our youth today. I am delighted to see the establishment of Youth Cafes around West Cork in recent years. I was involved in the setting up and development of the Dunmanway Youth Café and as a member of the management committee, I am happy to say it is going from strength to strength supporting youth needs in the area. I believe Youth Cafes are essential to establishing a recognised youth space and voice for the youth of our communities. They should provide a healthy, alcohol free space for young people to socialise. They should support young people’s interests in terms of organising music, drama and support young people’s interest through workshops according to the wishes of young people and encourage activisim and leadership among the youth of today.
The decision to cut job-seekers allowance for those under 25 in Budget 2014 was a regressive measure and has created great hardship for young job-seekers and accelerated the numbers of young people emigrating from Ireland. The youth unemployment rate in Ireland increased to 26% in January of 2014 from 25.7% in December of 2013. I welcome and support the design and implementation of a Youth Guarantee, which will offer a young person further education, trainee-ship, apprenticeship or a job within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed. I believe the Youth Guarantee, if properly implemented and funded, can offer young people hope and a path from unemployment to work and I ensure the youth of West Cork that my support for youth initiatives will continue into the future.