Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House. It is the first time I have been in her company since she officially visited Cavan and presided at the presentation of FETAC certificates in Cavan Youthreach for the second year in a row. On behalf of all of the staff and trainees there we are looking forward to having her back for a third time. She also officiated at the opening of the youth cafe in Cootehill. I wish to put on the record of the House how grateful both organisations are to the Minister for taking time out of her busy schedule. I know she had to return to Dublin for a function that evening. It was very much appreciated.

I acknowledge the fact the Minister is, as Senator Conway stated, the first Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the history of the State, but I must also state my colleague from Cavan, Deputy Brendan Smith, was responsible for putting together a very important strategy during his short period of time as a Minister of State with responsibility for children.

I wish to mention a number of areas with which I am familiar, including the Garda juvenile liaison officer scheme which has been very successful for more than three decades. It provides a second opportunity for young people who find themselves in difficulties without having to be fined or spend time in prison. The other area with which I am familiar is the Garda juvenile diversion programme which is a more recent development. It is very successful and deals with young people between the ages of ten and 21. I also wish to mention the local drugs task forces throughout the country which provide much-needed funding for communities badly affected by the scourge of drugs. All of these schemes and programmes do excellent work and are mainly funded by the Department.

The €53 million the Department has been voted this year will do excellent work throughout the country. I know the Minister is very busy and has a huge range of responsibility, but she might consider examining the possibility of taking in charge some aspect of the Youthreach programme, with which I am very familiar. In particular I suggest the Minister takes responsibility for young people under the age of 18. She would have a huge contribution to make. The Department could provide much-needed funding, particularly for supports in the area of psychology and counselling, as such supports are sadly lacking. Perhaps the Department and the Department of Education and Skills could work together to examine this. Unfortunately it is an area of the Youthreach programme budget which is not sufficient. It is so small it is dangerous to even undertake dealing with some of the psychological difficulties some of the young people in the Youthreach centres have. Psychological assessment is not undertaken because money to follow through is not available.

I commend the Minister for the excellent work she does and we look forward to working with her in the years ahead.