The strength of the Act lies in the fact that there has been such widespread consultation. Rather than taking a top-down approach to the matter, we tried to elicit from individuals and groups already involved in youth work what the immediate issues were, before addressing them in a practical way. The Act defines the functions of the Minister in the provision of a youth work programme or service, including the development, co-ordination and assessment of youth work programmes and services. It also defines the functions of vocational education committees regarding youth work, the role of the assessor of youth work, the composition and functions of the national youth work advisory committee. It further provides for the establishment of a youth work committee and local voluntary youth councils for each VEC area as well as the preparation by each VEC of a three year development plan for its administrative area.