Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate and I commend Senator van Turnhout on taking the initiative with a well drafted motion. I join other Senators in unreservedly acknowledging the value of youth work and the contribution youth workers make to society. A well supported youth sector is one of the elements society needs to have in place to protect its most vulnerable and to ensure societal cohesion, especially when one considers that 37% of young people aged under 18 are at risk of poverty and social exclusion and almost one in five young people is not in education, employment or training. As Senator Hayden said, Indecon found that youths in NEETs cost the State ¤4 billion last year alone and this needs to be addressed.

Week in, week out I engage with groups involved in youth work and helping young people with mental health or LGBT issues. Other Members have addressed the economic value of youth work as highlighted in the Indecon report. It is indisputable that youth work is often for those who fall between the cracks and the non-formal education sector is becoming more important in this regard, as youth work plays an irreplaceable role. I am delighted to salute youth workers and to let them know their contribution is more than recognised; it is valued. Moreover, the social good that flows from youth work is entirely unique and positive. Variety is the great strength of youth work and a great mix and balance of youth organisations operate in the sector and provide an excellent service. I am loth to mention groups in case I forget one or I am seen to be adding to the competition for scarce resources to support the sector but we should channel all our energies to stand up for the entire sector and for young people. I do not want us to fall into accepting cutbacks as inevitable or facts of life. They should be challenged, especially with reports such as that conducted by Indecon, which highlight the economic value of this work.

I refer to the role the EU Presidency will play in this area next year. In a briefing I received from the Department, the Minister referred to the Irish Presidency of the EU Council of youth Ministers and the theme of social inclusion. Ireland's approach to social inclusion is to emphasise that inclusion involves all young people, in addition to those with fewer opportunities, to enhance their competences and capacities. The Minister's goal for the Presidency is to promote the value of quality standards in youth work as a means to achieving positive outcomes for young people who engage in youth work opportunities. It is good to focus on the contribution of such work to the development and well-being of young people. Given 37% of young people aged under 18 are at risk of poverty and social exclusion and the youth sector is supporting many of these marginalised young people, the continual cutting of funding for the youth sector will mean the capacity of the sector to support them will be undermined. Does the Minister not think the cuts in this area announced in the budget last week run counter to the priorities during the EU Presidency? As other Members said, the youth sector has experienced a cut of 30% to its funding since 2008.

She mentioned the high level round table event in June 2013, which will explore youth work's contribution to achieving the goals of Europe 2020, including issues relating to youth unemployment. Senator van Turnhout asked what dialogue the Minister had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in advance of the budget about Indecon's economic assessment. The Minister said in her contribution that she highlighted the report to that Department and the Departments of Social Protection, and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. What was the response of the Departments? What type of working relationship has she with them in the context of the report? The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform repeatedly talks about efficiencies and savings. It is important that he knows that every euro invested in the youth sector now will equate to saving ¤2.22 for every euro in the future.

Much of the correspondence from youth work organisations focuses on the need for greater consultation with them in co-operation with the Department. Will the Minister commit to meeting their representatives to discuss the budget? She said there will be a value for money review next year. Will she meet the relevant youth groups, organisations and agencies in advance of, or during, that process? She referred to some of the priorities of the review that she will highlight regarding the value of youth work.

Will the Minister meet those groups in order that they can highlight that issue because the value of first hand experience for the review cannot be underestimated? I strongly encourage the Minister and the value for money review to meet these groups. I thank Senator Jillian van Turnhout and others for tabling the motion, which I support. The youth sector will be valuable especially given the youth unemployment crisis, the social and economic consequences of which cannot be put on the back burner until the economic situation improves.