Dr. Sinead McMahon:

The Senator has asked an interesting question. I find it confusing how we have ended up placing such an emphasis on metrics around youth work and other human services. As part of my research, I have reviewed Dáil debates and meetings of committees such as this at which youth work has been discussed. It is amazing the number of times that politicians, including Senator Seery Kearney, have recourse to their own story about the impact youth work has had on their lives. I have met Ministers with responsibility for children and youth affairs in the past when I was involved with some youth work organisations. When they came to visit, they wanted to meet the young people and youth workers, and they wanted to hear stories. They did not want to hear numbers. I find it confusing that, on the one hand, we say we need metrics because that is how it is, while, on the other hand, we all want to know about the impact stories and the role that youth work has had on people's lives. That is what we are really interested in. It is a policy decision to place such an emphasis on metrics. It can be undone, and we can make new policies that place an emphasis on values rather than value.