Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister on the termination of the JobStart programme for 16-25 year olds in Northern Ireland.

I have not had any discussions with the Northern Ireland Communities Minister regarding the JobStart scheme. The Northern Ireland Department for the Communities is responsible for the delivery of the scheme which has received £15 million New Deal for Northern Ireland funding from the UK Government to cover the period April 2023 to March 2025.

The JobStart application portal closed on 30 June 2024 as planned. All participants currently on the scheme will be able to complete their JobStart opportunity.

Investment in skills and employment is a devolved matter and any decision on future funding for the JobStart scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.