To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any work that has been undertaken, in partnership with the Minister of Education, to reduce the number of young people that are not in employment, education or training.

Addressing the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) is recognised as a complex and multi-faceted issue, requiring coordinated action across a range of areas, including education, skills, health and community services.

My officials have been liaising with Department of Education (DE) colleagues through a number of avenues, recognising that retaining young people in education, training or employment is key. This includes through the joint 14-19 structures to consider, for example, the DE 16-18 legislation which aims to keep young people in education or training. My Department is represented on the DE RAISE Programme Board and DE officials have also collaborated with my Department on Widening Participation in Higher Education, as members of the WP Forum.

Within my Department we have a wide range of programmes already in place to help those who are classed as NEET, including further education provision, apprenticeships, employability programmes and targeted youth interventions.