Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on implementation of the youth work strategy, opportunities for youth. [39687/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The opportunities for youth strategy for the period 2024 to 2028 outlines 18 priority actions to be delivered by the end of 2026, including the establishment of an interdepartmental group and a review of the Youth Work Act 2021. Will the Minister provide an update on the implementation of the strategy?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services is the strategic framework for the youth work sector. It was published in September 2024. The purpose of the strategy is to provide a platform for an effective, data-driven and joined-up approach to the delivery of youth work and related services. The implementation of the strategy will be reported on via the Young Ireland governance structures. The implementation of this strategy, and the co-operation of all relevant actors, will be supported via a new national youth sector reference group, as well as a group with representatives from Departments and agencies that provide funding to, or interact with, the youth sector. This is being established. Importantly, this group will provide an opportunity for young people to engage. I have asked the Department, at the earliest opportunity, to make we reach as many young people as possible, in particular those who would not necessarily engage with structures such as this.

Since the transfer of responsibility for this matter to the Department on 1 May, I have included actions in the recently published education plan to bring forward these structures and have had my first meetings with the national youth organisations. I have met the umbrella organisations and had good engagement with them. They are very keen to ensure they have an active role in the implementation of the strategy. I am also keen that they have this active role. I have set out that the Department will revert to stakeholders in the coming period on draft implementation arrangements for the strategy, including consultation and the engagement structures.

Work is progressing well on delivery of several of the actions for which the Department has lead responsibility. We are still working on the full implementation plan, but the actions have not been paused. We are not waiting to move ahead. Under Action 7, a workforce survey was developed in late 2024 and disseminated to youth workers to establish baseline data and information. This data is being analysed at present. In March this year a questionnaire issued to youth organisations to provide the Department with a more in-depth understanding of the challenges experienced by youth organisations in workforce recruitment and retention. These are coming through clearly from the organisations.

Under Action 8, departmental officials have begun work on a review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. The review will assess how the scheme operates, the extent to which the scheme is meeting its objectives, and whether the processes and procedures that underpin the scheme are fit for purpose. Ten new UBUs will be supported this year and we are working through the applications we have received.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Youth work is indeed fundamental to our society. I stand here as a TD who came through youth work and youth theatre. I was a youth worker for a very long time. I see in my community the importance of youth work. Responsibility for youth has come within the remit of the Department. We very much need to keep it as a priority. There is a lot in education, and I would not like youth work, in all its guises, to be forgotten.

I would love to hear more about timelines. When we plan and do new things, there is a lot of consultation. It is great the Minister recognises that there is a recruitment and retention issue regarding youth workers. A large amount of work goes into applying for funding for youth work organisations, and it takes away from the work that youth workers can do on the ground. I would love to see the funding become multi-annual. Everything comes back to the young person. I would love to hear more about timelines from the Minister.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I acknowledge, as she has, the fantastic work done by our youth workers. So much of it is unseen, and it contributes. We have spoken here many times about challenges in school and making sure children are in school. Youth workers in particular support bringing people back to school and making sure they are happy and they are active. My role and my intention, now that youth is under the remit of the Department of education, is that we create these links and make them even stronger. I know it is something Deputy Cummins is passionate about, not only for DEIS schools and in disadvantaged areas but for young people. My objective through the youth strategy is that as many young people as possible have access to these services. There is often an assumption it is more urban areas or more built-up areas where young people need access to services. People living in the most rural part of the country might need access to a service. In the context of the new UBU services, my focus is to try to make sure we have a geographical spread.

I will be able to give Deputy Cummins timelines on the various stages of implementation once the plan is fully formed. We are actively working to make sure, between now and the end of when the strategy is set, that everybody knows what they are doing and what their timeline is and making sure, most importantly, that they stick to it.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When we know how well youth work works, we can see what happens when it is absent. In my community in Dublin South Central the Donore Avenue community centre burnt down four years ago. A number of voluntary and paid youth work services were based there. Their absence has meant more young people do not have constructive things to do, and this has led to antisocial behaviour and challenges. The thing about youth work is that it is something that is often unseen but when it is absent we know exactly what the level of need is. Given that it is July, youth workers throughout the country are doing trips. They are bringing young people everywhere and giving them great opportunities. As the Minister has said, I would love to see more young people involved. Traditionally, youth work was focused in disadvantaged areas. I would love to see every young person in Ireland who wants to access a youth service to be able to do so. I look forward to working with the Minister and I thank her very much.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is a body of work still to do on just this and identifying where are the gaps. This is separate work that is happening in the Department on mapping exactly where the services are and what types of services are being provided. This is so we can identify where the gaps are and link up better with the education portfolio and identify what resources are needed. I want to make sure current funding increases as much as possible. There is approximately €85 million between current and capital funding provided for our youth services at present. I want to see this increased, not only from the current perspective but also on the capital side.

I think of youth organisations in my own county of Meath. They are doing phenomenal work but they are working in old buildings that were not made for this particular purpose and are not fit for it. It is important to support them to upgrade, modernise or identify new spaces, where possible. We must also make sure we have the workers. It is a really important objective of mine to use the workforce plan to identify not only how to attract more people into the profession, but also how to keep the really fantastic workers that are there.