The latest figures from Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection show that 287 people under the age of 26 have been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit or signing for credits for 12 months or more across the County.
Nationally around 9,000 young people have been without work for over a year.
National Youth Council of Ireland Deputy Director James Doorley says the government needs to take action to support unemployed people.
"We have 9,000 nationally and in the South-East there are almost 1,700 people who we believe need additional support in terms of education and training."
Among these measures, the body have proposed that €2m is invested in an access to apprenticeship programme.
The number of apprentices in training in 2017 was 12,849, up from 10,445 in 2016 driven by a 53% increase in the number of new entrants between 2015 and 2017.
James Dooley says they "support the overall Government commitment to double the number of new entrants by 2020 to 9,000 per annum with the introduction of a range of new apprenticeships including in areas such as animation, horticulture and healthcare."
“As we expand the number and range of apprenticeships, however, it is vital that these opportunities remain open to all young people, in particular young people who are economically and socially disadvantaged and those who have limited formal qualifications.
