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BRIAN MOONEY'S  ADDRESSING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT:The massive increase in unemployment that has occurred in the past year has particularly affected the young, especially those who left the education system at an early stage because of the lure of good wages in low-skilled employment, particularly in the building industry.

As a result of the recent Budget, these unemployed young people have now experienced a major cut in their benefits following a 50 per cent reduction of the Jobseekers allowance for the under 20s. The allowance will continue to be paid at the higher rate for those engaged in education and training, however. Hopefully, this initiative, which I support, will encourage unemployed young people to begin to explore the option of a return to education.