The Social Protection Minister's insisting that solving the youth unemployment crisis is a government priority.

Joan Burton and the Taoiseach are in Paris today attending a European meeting on the issue of youth joblessness.

The Irish Times reports today that there's growing doubt over funding the plan to offer work or training to young people within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed.

Newstalk's Pat Kenny asked minister for Social Protection Joan Burton what happens next:

Minister Burton said it was important to remember that the scheme is a very ambitious and demanding programme, which is going to take an amount of time to implement. 

She's insisted too that the problems of youth unemployment we are experiencing are being experienced on a wider European scale.

Fianna Fáil reacts

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil says it's baffled by the Taoiseach's response to concerns about the Youth Guarantee Scheme.

Speaking this morning before heading to Paris to discuss youth unemployment at an EU level, Enda Kenny said the issue is not funding but knowing who becomes unemployed, and when.

Fianna Fáil's Dara Calleary says the Taoiseach's getting his priorities wrong: