Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister the best in his new role, as well as the officials in the Department. I want to focus on two areas. I mention the need for more funding for the youth work sector. I am looking under subhead B6, youth organisations and services. We see that there has been an additional investment of 2%, which to my mind is probably meaningless when one looks at the need for youth workers and services, especially on the back of Covid-19 and the invaluable work they do.

I have been in discussions with many different organisations such as Foróige, the National Youth Council of Ireland and Junior Chamber International, and they are calling for real action in this area. We have seen what Covid has done to many of our young people, from both from a mental and physical health point of view. The challenge now is supporting our voluntary organisations and workers in this area. This sector had a budget of €65 million in 2020 and that budget has not been substantially increased over the past decade. Going into the future, we need to start investing in youth services and workers. They are a core part of community and voluntary organisations and the buy-back they give to young people is enormous.

Young people face many challenges. We also have to look at the substance misuse strategy, on which we need major support. Access to illegal substances is now rampant for young people throughout the country. We need to invest in educating people and that must be adequately resourced as well.

Deputy Ward referred to the CAMHS waiting list and I would like the committee to discuss that as well. That curve will most certainly need to be flattened post Covid and in the months and years ahead.

I also want to talk about youth employability for early school leavers. It is a huge area in which we see an awful drop-off of young people from disadvantaged areas. We need to start investing in young people and their employability. The Minister with responsibility for further education, Deputy Harris, has looked at a new apprenticeship scheme but the Department of Children and Youth Affairs would have some sort of remit to support young people moving into post-junior certificate apprenticeships. That is a good area to promote in order to ensure we have an education programme for early school leavers. Those are the areas I want to prioritise.