Training For Young People

Youthreach Programme: Youthreach is an education, training, and work experience programme for

early school leavers. It is a programme of second-chance education and provides two years integrated education, training, and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training, who are between 15 and 21 years of age. Learners are supported in setting individual learning plans aimed at increasing their self-esteem, skills and knowledge and ability to get a job. Youthreach leads to awards typically at NFQ levels 3 & 4. Places are provided nationwide by 16 ETBs in just over 100 Youthreach centres and over 30 Community Training Centres (CTCs). Learners on the Youthreach programme may be eligible to receive a training allowance in lieu of Social Welfare payment. Additional allowances for meal, travel and accommodation may also be available.

Participants may be eligible to be paid the basic training allowance, a lunch allowance and may also qualify for a travel allowance. If they are over 18 years of age and currently getting a Social Welfare

payment of more than €232, they will continue to get the higher amount while they are on Youthreach as long as they are eligible.

If Participants were getting a reduced age-related Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) before starting Youthreach Any means that were deducted from JA will also be deducted from the training allowance. This also applies to people getting a reduced age-related basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA).

Participants can take up part-time work while on Youthreach without it affecting their training allowance.