Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I take the Deputy's point. We are all aware of the threats posed to young people by alcohol, drugs and unhealthy lifestyles. We must get to grips with the challenges posed by consumerism, the media and new technologies. There is a number of things I am doing on the development of youth work and I am going to ensure we have a national youth development policy because we have no comprehensive youthwork policy in place at the moment. I am also looking at the 2001 youthwork legislation. Deputies familiar with this area are aware that many of the provisions of that legislation have not yet been implemented. Youthwork funding streams have not changed since the 1980s and we must examine the most effective use of the funding being given to youth bodies. In many areas there is duplication and there is clearly work to be done to streamline the money and projects being done with young people. It is now more important than ever that organisations are not duplicating work, with multiple funding going to similar projects. This area needs to be rationalised and we must examine those funding streams.

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