David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to speak on the motion. Earlier this year, I attended the launch of a report, Where Do you Go When You Go Out — Young People's Thoughts and Views on Promoting Youth Friendly Facilities in East Cork. It was a longitudinal project where transition year students in all the schools in the area plus youth clubs and organisations were involved in a consultation process over a prolonged period. The project began in 2004 and was three years in the making, with the report being launched this year. It involved in-depth quantitative and qualitative research which sought the views, needs and hopes of young people on society and youth facilities in the area. East Cork Area Development and the HSE worked together with youth organisations and visited young people to compile the report.

A common priority clearly emerged at the beginning of consultations, namely, the need for a place where young people, mainly early teenagers, could meet and participate in a range of activities. The report highlights the reality, to which many Members made reference, that there are few social outlets and recreational facilities available to young people in many parts of the country. In the words of young people themselves, they want a place to go with their friends to have fun where they will not get kicked out. Throughout the country there are many State buildings and facilities lying idle that could, with a little imagination and flexibility, be used for youth work purposes. This could be done almost immediately and at little cost if the will existed.

It is not surprising young people are unhappy with the facilities available to them. While the Youth Work Act was passed six years ago in 2001, much of it has not been fully implemented, as is the case with the national youth work development plan. Progress is very slow. In response to a question I tabled earlier this year, the Minister for Education and Science stated many sections of the Youth Work Act have not yet been commenced. At the time of the passing of the Act, in which I was involved, the VECs were to be involved through sections 8 and 12, the youth work development plans were to be put together, the assessor of youth work was to be appointed, youth work committees and voluntary youth councils were to be established and so on. It was exciting, innovative and agreed by all sides but progress has been very slow.

An impetus and sense of urgency is needed to get the process moving. I accept work is ongoing in a number of areas of the youth work development plan and there is a national youth work development unit in Maynooth, which is welcome, but more speed is required. It is no wonder young people are disillusioned when they feel their needs are being ignored. Many are disheartened at the lack of action in the area of youth facilities.

All Ministers should read the report Where Do you Go When You Go Out. It is obvious there is a huge need, not just in the area covered by the report but throughout the country. In the compilation of the report, groups of children from each school in the area came together and were questioned about the adequacy of youth facilities. Only 5% were satisfied whereas 79% said facilities were not adequate. The report contained the following quotes from the young people questioned:

'No! There are no recreational facilities at all for young people in this area. People that live here get so bored because there is nothing to do ever!!'

'No! Young people have nowhere to go or nothing to do so they turn to underage drinking.'

'No, because most young people hang in the same spot and usually get into trouble because of boredom. They also get depressed because of no facilities and end up in a lot of danger like vandalism, getting drunk or dealing with drugs.'

'No, because if there was, less people would be going drinking in bushes every weekend thinking that it does not get much better than this.'

'No. There is no proper youth centre or anything. Everywhere we go we get told to move.'

'No, the guards and the council are constantly giving out about the amount of underage drinking but realistically there is not much else to do.'

'No, I'm either too young or too old for any facilities around here. There are facilities for children i.e. primary school children but none for teenagers.'

So it continues. The young people themselves recognise the problems and the needs. They have asked for facilities but none is forthcoming.

The report makes a number of worthwhile recommendations, including a call to meet the needs of young people for recreational facilities such as youth cafés in all towns, as well as other outlets such as swimming pools and cinemas. Youth cafés in particular would provide young people with a safe, warm place to go but action is needed at local and national level to achieve this. Professional youth workers are needed on the ground. I could continue but the same message has come from all colleagues during the debate.

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