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The Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney, today (Friday 19th February 2016) launched the Defence Forces Employment Support Scheme at McKee Barracks, Dublin. The Scheme is a joint initiative between the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces , the Department of Social Protection and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board.

The development of the new Employment Support Scheme arises from a commitment given in the White Paper on Defence which was published last year.

The objective of the Scheme is to help develop a path to economic independence for unemployed participants, aged between 18 and 24, who are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of being able to develop their own human capital owing to their current socio-economic situation.  The Scheme is designed to exert a positive influence on participants with the specific aim of equipping them with life skills and other marketable and certifiable skills which will assist them in their capacity to participate fully in society and their ability to enter the workforce or to pursue further education for this purpose

In launching the Scheme Minister Coveney stated “On successful completion of the programme, participants should be able to demonstrate an increased sense of self-confidence, self-discipline, self-motivation and self-worth and increased physical fitness.  They will be able to display social and team skills and to communicate more confidently with potential employers”.

Participation in the Scheme will be voluntary and Minister Coveney expects “that participants will find it interesting , exciting and challenging”.

A pilot scheme for 30 participants will commence in June of this year and run for 10 weeks.  It will be based at Gormanston Camp and will be run in conjunction with the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board.