Seanad debates

Thursday, 6 April 2006

12:00 pm

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator O'Rourke for inviting me here today and for giving me the opportunity to talk about youth work in Ireland. As Senators will be aware, Ireland has the youngest population in Europe. Our present population is over 4.027 million, the highest on record since 1871. A total of 41% of the population, or two in five, are under the age of 25. The EU average for under 25s is 25%. Our young people represent an active and vital force in our country's social, political and economic development and well-being. It is important that we recognise the valuable contribution that young people make to our society and that we support their personal, social and educational development.

Irish society has changed dramatically in the past ten to 15 years. At least four major types of recent change, all interrelated, have been identified, namely, economic, political, technological and cultural. These changes are impacting significantly on the lives of young people. The make-up of the youth population is more culturally diverse than hitherto, increasing the need for intercultural awareness among young people and, indeed, those who work with them. Ensuring that this diversity is seen as a positive thing from which all can gain enrichment is a key challenge for all of us.

Against this background, the youth work service in Ireland has a necessary and valuable role to play in preparing and equipping all our young people for adulthood. The overall purpose of the youth work service in Ireland is to assist young people to realise their full potential and to become active participants in a democratic society. Youth work can be described as a planned, systematic, non-formal educational process, which assists and enhances the personal and social development of young people. It is complementary to the formal school system and in Ireland is implemented primarily by voluntary youth work organisations and groups. Perhaps where it differs most to the formal education sector is that it is characterised by requiring the voluntary participation of young people.

A benefit of the youth work approach is that when formally linked with school provision, it can diminish some factors that contribute to educational disadvantage and, thus, a link between the community and school life of the young person is forged. This is particularly true where teachers and youth workers are clearly seen by the young person as forming a seamless support for him or her. Youth work organisations such as Foróige, Scouting Ireland, Catholic Youth Care and Youth Work Ireland, to name but a few, provide opportunities for young people to develop themselves in a non-formal and fun setting.

Over 50 voluntary youth organisations operate in Ireland, with a stated membership of over 450,000. Over 40,000 voluntary youth leaders are the main educators, with support from approximately 1,000 full-time staff. These organisations and their young members are represented and supported in their work by the National Youth Council of Ireland. The National Youth Council of Ireland is pivotal to the provision and development of youth work in Ireland and the dedication and commitment of its staff to member and affiliate organisations is highly commendable. Indeed, it is in recognition of the NYCI's ongoing support and advocacy of the youth work sector that earlier this year I prescribed the NYCI as the national representative youth work organisation for a further three years.

The programmes operated by the voluntary youth work organisations vary widely and include outdoor pursuits, arts, recreation, project work and international exchanges. Qualities and skills such as leadership, co-operation, decision-making, motivation, and self-responsibility are acquired by young people through this non-formal learning process. As Minister of State with responsibility for youth affairs I am extremely conscious of the great benefits of youth work to young people themselves and to society. I am aware too that this recognition requires appropriate support. Through the youth affairs section of my Department, I am working with the National Youth Council of Ireland, the National Youth Work Advisory Committee and other interested parties to support the youth work sector. This support is provided by way of financial and other assistance.

With regard to financial support for the sector, I am pleased to inform the House that I have acquired significant additional funding for the sector and the schemes and programmes funded by my Department since taking office in 2002. Funding for the sector stood at €23 million in 2001 and has now increased to just over €43 million in 2006. I am sure Senators will agree that this is testimony to the Government's commitment to the work of the sector.

With regard to funding for the sector for 2006, in addition to the €1.012 million increase made available in the Abridged Estimates in November 2005, I secured a further €5.021 million in the 2006 Revised Estimates, bringing the total provision for youth work purposes to €47.037 million in 2006. This represents an increase of almost 15% over the 2005 provision. This substantial increase, together with the 18% increase I secured in 2005, is further evidence of the Government's commitment to young people and is a recognition of the value of youth work as a non-formal educational and developmental intervention which can enhance the personal and social development of young people and can be a significant force in combating social exclusion.

The additional €5.021 million for 2006 comprises the following elements: an additional €2 million for the ongoing development of youth work programmes and services as well as catering for the further progression of the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan; and a €2 million allocation from the dormant accounts fund. This is a once-off allocation which will focus on small capital grants for the provision of equipment and improvements to facilities for local youth clubs. This scheme will complement the Department's existing local youth club grant scheme which is administered through the vocational education committees, VECs. The youth affairs section of my Department is currently working on the details of the funding which will be administered through the VECs. An additional €1.021 million has been made available for the mainstreaming of a further 24 projects under the young peoples facilities and services fund. This fund aims through the provision of services to divert at risk young people in disadvantaged areas from the dangers of substance misuse.

These additional funds provide me and my Department with the means to progress a number of very important policy issues as well as supporting local youth clubs. It also gives me the scope to provide greater support for youth work provision. I look forward to seeing the contribution, which the sector will be empowered to make, as a result of this increased allocation.

My Department's strategy statement states, "Education is central to overcoming socio-economic disadvantage and poverty". ln this regard, it is important to understand that youth work also plays a significant role in addressing the needs of young people from disadvantaged communities. It provides another avenue for participation and inclusion to those young people who might traditionally have had fewer opportunities. It aids and supports the social development of vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged young people through non-formal education provision in ways that school is not always in a position to address and provides "successes" to the individual that can be shared in and out of school. The peer support for those with a common experience, the engagement of community actors and youth workers and the facilitation of flexible learning that reflects and respects the cultural values and experiences of participants contribute to the success of non-formal learning.

It is accepted by those involved in the education process in Ireland that innovative approaches are required to meet the identified need of these young people, with provision being made available through non-traditional modes, including those used by the youth work sector, where appropriate.

The development and expansion of my Department's special projects for youth scheme is a recommendation in the national youth work development plan and in this regard I have steadily increased support for these projects. I have provided additional grant-in-aid to allow 32 projects to employ a second worker and have provided grant-in-aid to 13 new projects. There are currently 177 projects in operation and these are recognised as a valuable tool in addressing the needs of marginalised young people in disadvantaged areas. In general, projects are located in areas with high levels of social deprivation, poverty, unemployment, a high youth population and a history of early school leaving.

My work, and that of my Department, is underpinned and guided in the youth work field by two major interlinked policy documents, namely, the Youth Work Act 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007. The Youth Work Act 2001 provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services by the Minister for Education and Science, vocational education committees and national and regional voluntary youth work organisations. The Act was developed following a widespread consultation process and is providing a co-ordinated approach to the provision and development of youth work services at local and national level.

Some sections of the Act have already been implemented including the establishment of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee. The composition of this committee is unique in that half of the membership is from statutory organisations and half is nominated by the National Youth Council of Ireland. This partnership structure between statutory and voluntary sectors acts as an important advisory function for me, both in relation to identifying priority areas for development and also on other issues, such as youth welfare, which impact on young people's lives.

l take this opportunity to acknowledge the excellent work and advice given to me on many aspects of youth work by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee and its various sub-committees. l am appreciative of the valuable advice this committee gives me on issues which concern young people. The committee's comments are very beneficial to me and my Department in determining areas which require attention.

Another significant policy document is the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 which l launched in August 2003. The Act and the plan have, to a large extent, been developed in tandem; the Act provides the statutory framework and the plan provides the road map. The plan is the result of a lengthy consultation process and provides a blueprint for the development of youth work. It has four broad goals and cites some 50 actions to achieve these goals. The plan, the first of its kind for youth work in Ireland, presents challenges to all parties in the development of youth work. It is important we ensure that this work is done in consultation and in this regard I welcome the ongoing work of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee and my Department in the work to date on its implementation.

With regard to the progressive implementation of the Youth Work Act, a sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee has been steadily progressing the ground work and developing detailed guidelines and procedures, including those for the designation of local voluntary youth organisations and the establishment of voluntary youth councils, which are vital for the further roll-out of the Act in a planned and structured manner. The work of this sub-committee is continuing.

As a priority for 2005 I identified the capacity development of youth work organisations to assist them in preparing themselves organisationally for the implementation of the Act. To this end I established a development fund of €300,000 for youth work organisations to help ensure that they can achieve the new standards for approval and engage effectively with the new structures arising from the Youth Work Act 2001. Some 30 national and major regional youth organisations received one-off grants in 2005, ranging up to €15,000, to help develop their information communications technology capacity. I am making similar funding available in 2006 for further organisational development of youth work organisations.

Another area receiving my attention is the capacity development of vocational education committees to carry out their responsibilities under the terms of the Act. I am pleased to report that further progress has been made recently in this regard. A structure for the resourcing of VECs to carry out the functions set out for them under the Act has now been agreed in principle between my Department and the Irish Vocational Education Association. I propose to approve a number of additional youth officer posts to vocational education committees in this regard.

The national youth work development plan strongly recommends the appointment of an assessor of youth work. Following the advertisement of the post in December 2005, an interview process took place and I am pleased to inform the House that the Public Appointments Service is currently finalising various details and procedures relating to the post. The functions of the post include the support and development of good youth work practice through the assessment, monitoring, and review of youth work programmes and services provided by the voluntary youth work sector in Ireland. I regard this development as essential to the development of quality youth work provision and I am confident that everyone involved in the sector will regard it as a very positive step forward.

As a society we have become more aware of our duties and responsibilities in the protection of young people under our care and in the prevention of child abuse. It is vital that young people are given the opportunity for personal and social development in a safe environment. The national youth work development plan also stressed the importance of child protection in youth work. The National Youth Work Advisory Committee developed a code of good practice, entitled, Child Protection for the Youth Work Sector, which I published in September 2002. The overall aim of the code is the protection and well-being of aIl children and young people participating in youth work activities.

Since its publication in September 2002, my Department has supported the appointment of a national co-ordinator for child protection and the establishment of a child protection unit within the National Youth Council of Ireland. The unit is providing ongoing support and comprehensive training for the youth work staff and volunteers. I am very pleased to inform the House that a process for the Garda vetting of new youth work staff and volunteers, which will come into effect later this year, is being agreed between my Department, youth work organisations, and the central Garda vetting unit. This development will serve as an additional precaution in the safeguarding of our young people.

The plan also recommends the establishment of a North-South panel for the professional endorsement of youth work training. ln this regard, following detailed discussion between youth work interests North and South in January this year, I had the honour to officially co-launch the North-South education and training standards for youth work with Minister Angela Smith of the Department of Education in the North. The objective of this North-South partnership is to establish a process which is purpose-built to serve youth work training in Ireland, North and South, and which will be consistent in regard to value-base, curricula and quality standards with similar bodies in England, Scotland and Wales. This will help to achieve the highest quality professional training for youth work, North and South, and facilitate mobility in the sector.

As recommended in the national youth work development plan, a national youth work development unit is to be established on a pilot basis within the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. This unit will spear-head youth research and development in Ireland. As some of the actions recommended in the plan are dependent on this unit being in place, the setting up of the unit will allow for the further implementation of various actions.

Two important reviews recommended in the plan, the first on youth information provision and the second on funding of the youth work sector, commenced in 2005. These are nearing completion and will inform future developments in these areas. The national youth work development plan is ambitious, with 50 actions recommended. The steps taken to date are of fundamental importance to the pursuance of quality youth work provision in all its facets. While there is more work to be done, I am sure the House will appreciate that vital work has already been carried out to implement the plan.

Youth work is characterised by the required voluntary participation of young people. A common and commendable feature of such work is the voluntary nature of much of its provision. In an era when people have increasing difficulties balancing work and family commitments, I take this opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in youth work. The ongoing maintenance of our youth work services would not be possible without the selfless work of volunteers. The range and diversity of the services offered by our voluntary youth work organisations has been brought about by the skills, experience and commitment of the volunteers involved. These volunteers are the unsung heroes of youth work, who give freely and unselfishly of their time each week to enhance the lives of others.

In outlining the many youth work developments taking place, I am conscious of the necessity to emphasise the required voluntary participation of young people. I am aware too that young people themselves must be listened to when determining actions to address their needs. Through various structures in youth work organisations, the National Youth Council of Ireland, student councils, youth councils, Dáil na nÓg and other fora, young people can articulate their concerns and views with mechanisms to feed into the development of public policy making.

Given the importance of young people's input, I hosted an informal conference for Ministers and youth with the dual themes of "Young people and politics" and "The development of young people at EU level" as part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2004. I followed this up with a national conference for young people in Dublin, entitled "The EU and you", which was aimed at eliciting the views of young people on the European Union and particular aspects of policy at EU level. Building on these initiatives, I held a further national youth conference in 2005 which explored a range of issues, including youth welfare and youth participation at local, national and European level. It is my intention to host a further conference this year and to put a mechanism in place to refer the views of the participants to the relevant policy making areas.

As Minister of State with responsibility for youth affairs, I believe it is imperative we do our utmost to help prepare our young people to take up their adult roles in society. I am sure Senators will agree that we are obliged to give them the best possible preparation academically, emotionally and socially to help them meet the challenges ahead. I look forward to continuing to develop the close working relationships with youth work interests through the National Youth Work Advisory Committee and I am currently identifying priorities for development and advancement of the youth work sector for 2006 in consultation with the committee. I look forward to listening to the views of Senators on the youth sector.

Photo of Cyprian BradyCyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)
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I call Senator Finucane. The Senator has ten minutes.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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Ten minutes is sufficient. The Minister of State must have talked for 25 minutes. Her speech sounded like a thesis for a PhD on youth activity.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I was just covering the work done.

Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)
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It is a good thesis. The Senator should acknowledge it.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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It would be better and more spontaneous if the Minister of State spoke without notes because she would change and adapt her contribution.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I can do that in my closing remarks.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State did so — in two lines.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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No, I will do so in my closing remarks following the debate, if the Chair allows.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I did not interrupt the Minister of State. She might give me latitude as I have only a short time to speak.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Of course.

2:00 pm

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I was surprised the Minister of State did not refer to the content of a recent report, Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People. The young are often portrayed by the media in the wrong context, with articles referring to joyriding, drug related activity and so on, which tarnish all young people. Though regrettable, this is proven by the report, which contains interviews with young people about stereotyping and the difficulties they encounter.

I would have liked the Minister of State to attend the Funding Fairness event during the week and talk to the students involved, who are the seed corn for the future. They are mostly under 25 and will soon be graduates. The Minister of State should in particular consider the situation whereby 66 bodies throughout the country distribute higher education grants, resulting in long delays in payments to students. Many students who are outside the basic minimum guidelines must pay high tutorial fees and the cost of maintenance. The grant application process should be streamlined to ensure payments are made more quickly than normal. Developments should aim to make young students happy with the structures that exist.

The system is unfair in the context of debate in the Houses on upskilling. People may move to different occupations many times during their working lives. They will often study part-time and must pay fees to do so. If incentives were to operate, courses would be free of charge. Those who study part-time are often the educationally disadvantaged, who are trying to improve themselves, or people with other commitments — they might be married, have young children or be in long-term relationships. Rather than having financial and other deterrents, incentives should be provided to encourage such people to achieve whatever upskilling is required.

The young of today live in a more difficult environment than the one in which the Members of this House grew up. The pressures on them are different, a point which is regrettably highlighted by the number of young people who terminate their own lives due to frustration and otherwise. It is rare now to find a young person wearing a Pioneer pin, which points to the type of peer pressure which exists. A macho image is created by the media, particularly on television, whereby a person is deemed macho if he has a pint of lager in his hand but is thought a softy if he is drinking a cola or an orange. That was not the type of pressure with which any of us grew up. There is also pressure on parents of young children at second level school with regard to designer labels. Mothers at home are put under particular pressure to try to accommodate the wishes of their children, who want to be the same as others.

All of these components can be related to the problem of binge drinking among the young, as it is projected in our society. In many cases graduates have a responsible approach to smoking and their own health. Unfortunately, however, all young people seemed to be tarnished with the same image and stereotyped as being out to create trouble, as suggested by the report, Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People.

In that context, what action are we taking with regard to the large housing developments which are appearing throughout the country? The last thing to happen with regard to these developments is the provision of a structure for those who live there. Young people in these areas often get to know each other but if they congregate at corners or outside houses in what are perceived as gangs, they are called troublemakers. If they play football or another activity in a green area, they are not troublemakers. In many cases we do not provide proper structures for the young.

I will not go into detail of what has been achieved with regard to the various bodies such as the National Youth Council, which is doing good work. However, at political level there are many decisions we, as politicians, could take which would impact on the young and create a better lifestyle and future for them. These matters are within our control. Having met and listened to members of the Union of Students in Ireland during the week, and having read its report, I believe it deserves to be commended for highlighting the difficulties and inequities which exist in the system. I hope the Minister for Education and Science will respond to the difficulties the union has highlighted.

I put forward those points in the context of our changed environment. I am particularly mindful of decisions that can be made at ministerial level which can improve the lifestyles of young people. We would all agree that the stereotyping of young people that is taking place is wrong. Most young people in our communities are responsible, try to do the best they can and can ill afford the consequences of being stereotyped. I hope that we as politicians will do much to discourage such stereotyping.

Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and the debate on this issue. In the years during which I have been a Member of the Oireachtas I have had the opportunity to refer to issues such as youth affairs in many contexts in various debates but this is the first opportunity during the lifetime of this Seanad that we have had a debate specifically devoted to youth affairs. It is timely and appropriate for the many reasons outlined by the Minister of State and Senator Finucane.

Figures given by the Minister of State indicate we have upwards of 1.5 million young people under the age of 25 representing approximately 40% of our population. I am sure there are some changes in those figures since the 2002 census. However, addressing the various, growing and complex problems young people face in the transition from childhood into adulthood poses a major challenge to Government, society and the organisations that reach out to them in a statutory or voluntary capacity. Our young people constitute a much higher percentage of the population relative to the populations of other members' states of the European Union.

Young people have a variety of needs, which many agencies and Departments seek to address. While the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, is taking this debate, there is a range of Departments that seek to reach out to young people, although the primary focus of this debate is education. Other Departments that also play a role are the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the various agencies associated with it, Arts, Sport and Tourism and others. They endeavour, in a joined-up Government approach, to target the problems referred to by Minister of State and Senator Finucane.

We would all acknowledge that being young in Ireland is the same as being young in any other country, but being young means different things to young people. To many young people being young means experiencing the phenomenal success and affluence resulting from the economic growth during the past ten to 15 years and the phenomenal opportunities such growth has presented. I agree fully with Senator Finucane that it is unfortunate and most regrettable that many young people have been tagged in a way that is most unfair, unjustified and does not reflect the overwhelming majority of young people's commitment to structures, citizenship, a civic spiritedness, sport, cultural pursuits and everything that is good, proper and healthy in the long process of transition from childhood to adulthood. They have far greater opportunities than previous generations and the overwhelming majority of them grasp and embrace those opportunities with enthusiasm and passion and go on to achieve great success in their lives in far greater numbers than my generation or previous generations.

The number of young people who go on to third level education is only one example of the opportunities presented. Access programmes have been targeted to meet the needs of young people, notwithstanding what Senator Finucane said he heard the other day. I regret I was unable to attend the meeting at which representatives of the USI made a presentation as I was not in Dublin that day but I look forward to reading a copy of it with which I have been presented. I am sure there are even more problems than those that were rightly identified and articulated by the USI and the various other student unions. While changes were experienced from decade to decade throughout the 20th century, the changes seem to be occurring much faster and society and people's circumstances have become much more complex in recent years. One of the reasons for that, to which the Minister of State and Senator Finucane adverted, is multiculturalism as a result of the wave of immigration into Ireland. Many existing indigenous challenges, problems and barriers confronted young people over the years but the phenomenal changes that have taken place here due to the onset of the Celtic tiger and its many consequences have thrown up various difficulties for our young people.

Ordinarily when we discuss such difficulties, to many of which Senator Finucane referred, we refer to the pre-schooling, formal schooling, the formal college education and the third level structures that have been in place, which by and large have been phenomenally successful in guiding our young people through the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood. Various programmes were introduced in recent years to address the lacunae or shortcomings that the formal education system has not succeeded in addressing. As we constantly review, revise, assess and evaluate the programmes in place, we become more acutely aware of those lacunae and of those young people who have fallen through the net. Hence, the introduction of the various support programmes within the formal education system.

I want to address some of the issues the Minister of State has been competently and successfully addressing under the youth affairs section of her Department. I compliment her on the manner in which she has promoted, expanded, reviewed, revised, evaluated and secured substantial additional funding for the programmes under her remit in the youth affairs section of the Department. I pay tribute to her because not only is she working through statutory organisations such as the VECs with which I am familiar, having been involved with the VEC in Dublin throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, but through many voluntary organisations outside the normal school and college system which have been doing fantastic work.

As this is the first time I have spoken on youth affairs in this House in recent years, I want to pay a glowing tribute, in as strong and forceful a manner as I can, to the marvellous work done by the many voluntary organisations as well as the statutory organisations such as the VECs, without which the lacunae in the systems would be unbelievable and which the Government would not be able to fill in terms of funding. People refer to the black hole in terms of addressing problems in the health service, but there would be perhaps an even greater black hole in the community in enabling our young people to develop social and personal relationships but for the incalculable contribution of the those voluntary organisations. I refer to youth clubs, the National Youth Council of Ireland, the GAA, of which I have been an active member almost since the time I was born, the FAI, the IRFU and the scout movement, with which I had the honour to be involved in the 1970s before I was elected to the other House and for which I have high regard. I am keenly aware of the manner in which that movement has also responded strongly, positively and effectively to the needs in the area of youth affairs.

When I visit GAA clubs around Dublin, particularly on the north side — they do not let me down the south side too often — I have been very impressed by the role played by the nursery schools. I am not as familiar with the FAI but I understand that it and the IRFU promote similar developments. I compliment the GAA on its major initiative across north Dublin in establishing, developing and promoting these nursery schools. It is very encouraging to see mothers and fathers bringing out their daughter or son, some as young as five or six years old, with a hurley in their hands that might be bigger and heavier than the children themselves, or with a football. This happens in the nursery parts of the clubs, and such contributions are a significant measure in taking on the challenges that have been referred to here today and in many other places.

As I pay tribute to the Minister of State and the youth affairs section of the Department, I note there have been two very significant milestones in the development of services to the youth work programmes and services. The first is the Youth Work Act 2001, which has been referred to. As in many other areas, there was not a proper framework on this issue. We have known through the last decades of the past century, either by reading about it or experiencing it ourselves, that the organisations involved lacked co-ordination and focus despite the best determined efforts of the National Youth Council of Ireland. With the Act, these are on a statutory basis and are structured, targeted and focused.

Another significant factor is the establishment of the national youth work development plan. The main ideals, goals and principles which underpin the plan are laudable. They reach out and target many of the matters referred to by Senator Finucane, as well as the lacunae that still exist.

If we are to move forward we should do so in a structured way and this is what the Minister of State is doing through those two vital landmark achievements. It is not simply a question of how many youth clubs are in the country. I believe in youth clubs and I would like to see one in every parish, but they should not just exist for the sake of it. In this regard I recently read a comment concerning the lacuna which exists with regard to these clubs. If they are established there must be a structured framework of policy, facilities, programmes, review and evaluations on an ongoing basis. There should be a national framework through which youth clubs and the National Youth Council of Ireland can feed. Youth clubs should not be here today and gone tomorrow, which is what many of us have too often experienced in the past.

I commend the Minister of State for the great progress which has been made over the past few years in expanding the service, evaluating it, establishing the development plan, implementing the Youth Work Act and securing additional funding. I have no doubt that the young people of Ireland will value the contribution made through the various structures as they move into adulthood.

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Labour)
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I welcome this debate. Senator Fitzgerald has commented that it is the first debate he can recall on this issue in this House, and it is a matter which we should debate regularly from now on, perhaps every few months or once a year. We often debate issues relevant to young people, and Senator Fitzgerald mentioned that we have many debates on third-level education and so on. All issues are relevant to young people and what are called youth issues can be relevant to us all. This is similar to what are termed "women's issues", which can also be relevant to everybody.

This debate came about primarily because Senator McHugh of Fine Gael asked for it on foot of a recent survey carried out by the National Youth Council of Ireland concerning the attitudes of young people. One of the statistics in the survey concerned how young people perceived politicians as having a negative attitude towards them. That is one of the reasons this debate was called for.

When we discussed having this debate, I called on the Leader to invite representatives from youth groups. I am sure she did that, and the National Youth Council of Ireland was clearly aware of it as it sent an e-mail to me. It has a representative in the Visitors Gallery and I welcome its presence. The National Youth Council of Ireland often sends briefings to me, which are very welcome. We should meet with young people's groups on a regular basis.

The National Youth Council of Ireland might consider seeking to meet with representatives of each political group in the Seanad in addition to the briefings sent by e-mail, etc. I would be available if they are to make contact. It may be appropriate to contact each party leader, as well as the leader of the Independent group. I hope the various groups would feel free to talk to us at any time.

Many young people do not vote, although this is also a general problem. People do not get a vote until the age of 18, although one can have very strong opinions before then. We should consider the issue. If we miss engagement with people at that time of their life, it can set up a pattern of not voting for the rest of people's lives. Some people do not vote when they are young and begin to vote later in life, but some people are lost from democratic participation, which is a terrible shame. Many such people have important issues that need to be addressed and the only way to do this is through the political system.

Politicians must engage more with young people. I was recently asked in a questionnaire if I thought politicians were more remote from young people than they were 15 years ago. I do not think they are, and the generation gap has narrowed. Politicians are people like everybody else, and the generation gap applies to them as well. Politicians must nonetheless do more, and we should consider different methods. Taking, for example, the Oireachtas website, we should make it more attractive and easier for people to engage with. In this regard American websites often have special links for school students, which we do not have. They should be introduced.

I will mention some of the points in the briefing given to me by the National Youth Council of Ireland. It welcomes the debate, and it has indicated that there are over 50 youth organisations in the Republic of Ireland, mobilising 40,000 volunteers and 800 paid staff, who serve over 750,000 young people. Much work is being done on the ground with young people, something which I know from experience. It is interesting to see a statistic which gives an idea of the amount of people involved. The National Youth Council of Ireland makes the point that young people are not a problem to be solved and youth work is not primarily about solving social problems. It is about adults and young people working together to further personal, community and social development and in doing so, to prevent problems occurring in the first place.

One of the principles singled out by the council is the need for young people to be involved in decisions that affect them. That is contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it has been incorporated into some of the policy documents in this country. The National Children's Office has incorporated the principle in its document on play facilities. The bodies which would implement the policy are not coming on board. I have dealt with my local authority in South Dublin County Council, which would be similar to other local authorities, and it has not implemented many recommendations of the national play policy, despite it being the main body for implementation. The authorities barely go through the motions of involving young people in decisions about planning and recreational facilities, mentioned in particular by the National Youth Council of Ireland.

It is very important to involve young people in planning and trying to ensure that facilities are in place. There is a great dearth in facilities for young people and teenagers or people in their early 20s in particular. People used to be more tolerant of people hanging around on the streets than they are now. People do not want youths hanging around in the streets, yet no alternatives are provided. It is important to provide facilities and to involve young people in decisions as to what facilities they want and are appropriate for their area.

A youth café has been established in my area which opens once a week. It comprises a coffee dock and refreshments are supplied, but no alcohol. There is a jukebox, a disco and sometimes a live band. It has been very successful and is the type of facility we need to provide in community centres all over the country.

Another example, also in my area, is a youth service provided by the VEC in a newly-opened community centre in Lucan. From the moment the community centre was mooted I pushed for a youth service of this nature, especially one tailored to the tastes of teenagers. We have made a start but much more needs to be done and the issue is one of general planning. We build houses but do not provide facilities for young people.

I received a briefing from the National Youth Council of Ireland which referred to a five-year national youth work development plan, due to be adopted next year. The amount needed to implement it was estimated at €37 million but the amount provided so far has fallen well below that. The NYCI is calling for the plan to be implemented by the end of 2008 and wants €10 million to be provided next year and the following year. It makes other recommendations, such as that Garda vetting be made compulsory and resourced, that the Tipping the Balance report, dealing with volunteering, be implemented, and it suggested a national fund for building capacity for youth groups involving an element of capital funding to buy equipment, etc.

The briefing mentioned that some funding is being provided, such as for the national play policy, but that is often allocated to disadvantaged areas such as those in the RAPID programme. It is an important policy but it makes local authorities and Departments lazy. They look for the easiest and least time-consuming way to spend money so automatically decide on RAPID areas. There should be much more planning of how to spend money for young people in general.

The National Youth Council of Ireland recommends a national plan for the provision of facilities for young people, which I support. Disadvantage can be measured in different ways and I fully support, as I have done in the past, investment in disadvantaged communities, such as those so designated under the RAPID scheme. However, many communities which fall just short of RAPID designation have not received enough investment in recent years. Disadvantage can exist in communities that are considered middle class. For example, in Lucan there has been a very significant amount of development but families struggle to pay their mortgage and both parents must work. There are no facilities for teenagers, which has already led to social problems and will lead to more in the future unless action is taken now.

John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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These statements are particularly appropriate at this time, given the recent publication by the Equality Authority of its report, Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People. I want to put on record my commendation of the work of Mary Cunningham, director of the National Youth Council of Ireland and Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority. The greatest gratitude must be to Maurice Devlin, author of the report, and the young people, youth groups and workers who comprised the focus groups.

I will preface my contribution with a quote from the report:

Sometimes the young people drew an explicit parallel between media stereotypes and how politicians saw young people. There was a view that politicians themselves, in the ways they sometimes talked about young people and the issues they highlighted, were both responding to media stereotyping and helping to fuel it.

If Members of this House are to achieve just one positive outcome from the statements, I urge that at least today, in this House, no politician rises to his or her feet and reinforces, even inadvertently, a stereotype of young people. As the report points out, we can do this accidentally just by discussing the issues, even when we are trying to be helpful. Stereotypes, whether of people being anti-social or less intelligent, are just plain wrong. Before anyone is tempted to list certain qualities of young people, be warned. The report also tells us how stereotypes can attribute positive qualities to an entire group, for example, "the warmth and charm of the Irish" or, in the case of young people, "the idealism of youth". Members might think that, on the face of it, this is harmless enough. However, it represents a simplification of a complex social reality. It is often patronising and may in fact be disempowering.

This preface brings me to the substantial issue I wish to highlight during my few minutes, which is stereotyping in education, in particular the post-leaving certificate sector. One stereotype that may damage the entire sector is that further education and PLC courses exist simply for disadvantaged students. It is crass and uninformed. Worst of all, it may actually contribute to what the Progressive Democrats and I see as PLC courses becoming the "Cinderella" of our education system.

Let us look at the reality versus the stereotype. There were 18,000 enrolments in PLC courses ten years ago. Now the number exceeds 30,000 — more than the annual number of school leavers entering third level education. A network of more than 250 centres deliver PLC courses the length and breadth of this country. They are operating in the vocational, secondary and community school sector, with the majority in vocational colleges. They provide over 1,000 courses in more than 60 disciplines. The stereotype is that today's 30,000 students are in some way only "settling" for these courses, settling for second best and that for whatever reason they did not achieve, or succeed in, their preferred choice of education. I repeat that we cannot allow crass and uninformed stereotypes to persist.

Many students express first preferences for PLC courses. Many people such as young people or women, and I am consciously not stereotyping here, may seek specific training or retraining, or another educational experience. They may seek an educational experience that has a specific focus on work. The problem is not just that young people, and others for that matter who undertake PLC courses, are being stereotyped, but that the stereotype may in some way shape the treatment of the sector. That treatment has, frankly, been less than satisfactory over the past 20 years.

Even though PLC courses developed in the late 1980s, it took some 15 years for the recognition that very significant resources were needed to support the great and valuable service being delivered. It took some 15 years for a report to be commissioned that would make appropriate recommendations to support the great and valuable service being delivered. I am referring of course to the McIver report. Further education centres were originally intended to accommodate student populations much smaller than they have become. We also know that the funding structure was designed for second level, not to meet the needs of today's vibrant further education sector.

Despite being commissioned by the Department of Education and Science in 2002 to review the further education sector, McIver Consulting's recommendations remain unimplemented. Just look at some of the findings. McIver said the administrative, management, staffing and ancillary support structures for the PLC sector continue to be those designed for second level. The facilities, the number and size of the classrooms, the laboratories and work spaces are unfit for the purposes of the PLC sector. The average floor space of further education centres must be doubled. Library resources are inadequate, and there are too few computers. Many have no computer facilities available to students outside class time. The catering facilities in more colleges are inadequate, and staff numbers are too low. The sector needs more librarians and guidance and career counsellors; I could go on.

The findings and recommendations were published three years ago, and the Government accepted them, moving one to wonder what the problem is. My party has made specific inquiries about progress on implementing the recommendations of the McIver review. Regrettably, the reply merely confirms that progress on helping the PLC sector is listless.

Statements on the sector are filled with statistics on how popular PLC courses are, but they do not reflect the State's commitment to the sector. The increasing numbers of students enrolled must be matched by increased funding. In contrast, the 2006 Estimates make little or no reference to specific and increased funding for schools and colleges providing post-leaving certificate courses. The McIver report was published almost three years ago, and today the recommendations are still being prioritised and the implications considered. My party has called for intermatching on the McIver report recommendations, and I restate that call today.

The Equality Authority's report states that stereotypes of a group such as young people held by a society have an impact on how all its members are viewed and treated and on their status. Many young people engage with the PLC sector. Further education in the PLC sector is not correctly viewed or treated by society, and its proper status is not accorded. The message must be that we should forget the stereotype, since there is now an indisputable case for the further education and PLC sector to be treated as separate and distinct from compulsory schooling, not simply for young people but for all who pursue their education in that valuable and important sector.

Photo of Cyprian BradyCyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House. I have had the pleasure of seeing how she interacts with young people at first hand. She has a particular talent for listening to them.

We have heard much talk in this debate regarding the stereotyping of young people, and the report from the Equality Authority has been mentioned. Having gone through it, I found that one sentence jumped out at me. A young girl named Helen said that maturity did not come with age but with experience and other things. Many of our current issues and problems are blamed on young people in general, which is particularly unfair, and the riots on O'Connell Street spring to mind. It was automatically assumed that the rioters were young people. I was there shortly after the riot finished, and the vast majority of those present were adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s; there were even some in their 50s. We must tackle the generalisation discussed here today.

It is not only the media that stereotype young people. Gardaí, teachers and security personnel in shopping centres also do so. The Minister, the Government and their predecessors must be congratulated on the fact that they have gone out to ask young people's opinions. They have invited them to sit down with them and asked them their issues and what they feel they need. That is the key, and previous speakers have referred to it.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Croke Park Conference Centre, where Dáil na nÓg was held. More than 300 young people from around the country were interacting with each other and discussing very complicated issues such as immigration and the problems experienced by gay and lesbian people. Ultimately, they produced suggestions, the Minister being on hand to listen to them. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who has specific responsibility for youth affairs, brings those issues to the Cabinet table, providing a direct route for young people into policy formulation. We were the first country to introduce an Ombudsman for Children, and Emily Logan has been very successful. In her case too, I have seen at first hand how she interacts with young people. She is there to protect their interests, providing a conduit for them to report any problems they might have, whether with teachers or with gardaí.

The Minister of State referred to an increase in investment in young people, which has almost doubled in recent years. I have witnessed that personally, especially through the young people's services and facilities fund. Several projects in the inner city have been fully funded by it, including their personnel. It is not simply a matter of buildings or rooms; it is also about people. In some cases they volunteer, but in many others they are appointed.

It is no good telling young people where they should or should not be. They must be attracted to such places. In Cabra, in the John Paul II Park complex, a simple room with a coffee machine and one or two Playstations means that kids will come from all over to spend a few hours talking without the presence of adults. It has been extremely successful through proper investment and planning and asking young people for their input. It comes out in the report that young people simply need somewhere to hang out. We have an anti-social behaviour problem, as it is called, and it is not only teenagers or young people who cause it. For example, adults enter off-licences around the city in the full knowledge of the owner to buy alcohol for under-age drinkers. There is no comeback on that, and we must tackle such issues.

I am especially supportive of two matters, the first being the youth diversion programmes run by the gardaí, which are totally under-resourced. One in our area runs on €20 a day. They divert young children from involvement in crime and drugs. The other is the Club for You, which used to be the No Name Club. It organises alcohol-free discos for young people, giving them an opportunity to have a say in their lives and an input into their futures. Education plays a great role in that, and we must listen to young people to see what they want and need.

I congratulate the Minister of State who has done an excellent job. Funding has increased during her term.

Photo of Labhrás Ó MurchúLabhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I join with the other Senators who have welcomed the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the Chamber and compliment her on her work in her part of the Department of Education and Science.

I have been looking through a list of approximately 20 pages of projects, grant-aided schemes and so on. The credit for many of them can go to the Minister of State. From her press releases, which she has been good enough to send to us from time to time, her work seems to have touched virtually every part of the country. For that reason, I am glad that she is here. It is relevant and significant that we are having a discussion on youth affairs. No one could have foreseen this 20 years ago, since the issue was not centre-stage at that point. It has become a central issue in the media and for public representatives and one is tempted to ask why that is the case. We have a larger youth population than any country in Europe. There are always the issues of deprivation and, more importantly, opportunity. There are many opportunities now for young people because of our new-found affluence and the interaction between Ireland and other countries. Young people have the chance to travel through educational, cultural and sporting programmes so they have a knowledge of the wider world and are able to make comparisons and base their demands on them.

I was taken by Senator Brady's contribution. The anecdotal issues he raised are obviously based on his own experience in a given constituency. We should break this down into areas on which we can focus. I looked at the appendix of 33 relevant websites distributed by the Department, each run by an organisation working for young people, and it is just the tip of the iceberg. It gives an idea of the quantity as well as the quality of service being provided.

A group from Dáil na nÓg appeared before the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs recently and submitted themselves graciously and effectively to a question and answer session. Like Senator Brady I was exceptionally impressed because in the past there were contrived situations, with young people being prepared and rehearsed, but here they appeared before hardened public representatives who are interested in real issues. They were exceptionally good.

The one criticism I have — it is more of a challenge than a criticism — is that sometimes they should look to themselves to do things. We must create a balance between State aid and the initiative they have. I set up a club at the age of 16 which was run by young people. We did drama, music and other activities and published our own newsletter. Such initiative should not be stifled.

Each year I watch the Gáisce awards and I am thrilled with what I see. We hosted them in our centre in Cashel this year and to see the initiative and vision displayed by those young people was most impressive. The other side of the coin, however, is that young people today are open to exploitation by commercial interests. There is nothing worse than to see the statistic that more than 50% of young people have imbibed alcohol by the age of 13. That cannot be right, just like the number of young people who have experimented with drugs. Those are two sides of the coin, Gáisce on one side and the suffering as a result of exploitation on the other.

The Minister of State rightly referred to volunteerism. The kernel of success within a community is when people are involved on a voluntary basis in helping sporting, social and cultural bodies. Cashel has 27 voluntary organisations from a population of 3,000, which shows the extent to which voluntary effort exists on the ground. The Minister of State has helped fund many of those organisation and it is money well spent.

If anything disappoints me, after doing so much to help young people meet the challenges and avail of opportunities offered, it is the number of them who do not vote. I find that difficult to accept. Organisations should make young people realise that voting is the most fundamental right they have when it comes to controlling their own future.

Photo of Pat MoylanPat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
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I did not intend to speak in this debate, even though it is very important. There were, however, so many people calling for statements on youth affairs that I am sad to see for the first time this term the Opposition benches empty and only two Opposition speakers in the debate. Those people should consider their positions. Why did they seek this debate every morning? The Minister of State came here with her officials but they do not see fit to turn up.

I compliment the Minister of State on her work in the Department of Education and Science. She is sincere in her efforts, as I know from her speech on youth organisations. There will be expenditure of over €47 million on these organisations in 2006, an increase of 15%. That increase is a testament to the Minister of State.

The facilities for young people at risk and those who work with them to ensure they escape that situation, are very important. The VECs do vital work, with representatives in every town and village getting to the core of youth problems. The national youth plan will provide grant aid for 32 existing projects and 13 new projects and I hope the media will highlight that fact.

I have been involved with young people in the GAA, having trained numerous minor hurling teams, three of which won all-Ireland championships, and I recognise the importance of monitoring those who are involved with young people. The Minister of State is well aware of and is addressing that issue.

I compliment organisations such as Foróige, Scouting Ireland and the Catholic Youth Council, which the Minister of State mentioned, and the developments North and South. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of volunteering, particularly in youth organisations, and we must compliment people who work in a voluntary capacity. Grants are not everything. Many people are involved in organisations such as the GAA, the FAI, the IRFU and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, of which Senator Ó Murchú is a prominent member. We must recognise the contribution of young people involved in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to song and dance. Senator Ó Murchú did not mention this but I would like to do so.

Senator Tuffy contributed earlier and I was delighted to see a group of young people in the Visitors Gallery yesterday wearing tracksuits with the words "Lucan Sarsfield GAA" on them. They were accompanied by parents or volunteers. Those young people participate in camogie, Gaelic games, etc., in that club.

It is important that there are playgrounds in every town and village. We also talk about obesity yet we should get young people involved in activities at an early age. Large halls and gyms are attached to schools in many towns but they are locked up every evening at 5 p.m. We must make them available to young people in towns and villages to give them the opportunity to participate.

Photo of Joe O'TooleJoe O'Toole (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State. We need to take a creative approach to the issue being discussed. The issue I wish to address is the waste of resources and the opportunities which are not being given. I agree with Senator Moylan's point that there are facilities throughout the country. We should try to broaden the range of leisure time experiences available to young people. As everyone knows, I am a great supporter of the GAA and help it out whenever I get the opportunity. It is doing tremendous work, as other speakers have said. Other groups, such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, are doing extraordinary work to develop talent.

If children from the inner city got the opportunity to spend a week in the west sailing or orienteering, or if they had free access to the Abbey Theatre, it would give them new experiences. For example, generations ago, among the most disadvantaged were those who ended up in Artane industrial school. By developing musical skills, Artane created the basis for half the show bands and musicians of every type. The young children who were committed to that school with no skills or no hope learned that skill. If these children had the opportunity to go horseriding, sailing, orienteering or something which they would not otherwise do, they might develop a commitment to getting involved in that activity.

I would like minority sports to be developed in the school curriculum, particularly at post-primary level. For one month each year, young people should be able to experience activities they never experienced before. I saw this work with a group of disadvantaged children in primary school who were introduced to the game of chess. They had never seen chess pieces but within one month, a number of them had become superb chess players and still play chess to this day. This happened 20 years ago and it is something about which I think all the time. We are missing an opportunity to provide access to young people. We are all aware of the recent cost assessment carried out by the Sports Council on the economic gain from sporting activity.

The Minister of State mentioned the protection of people in charge of children. I know people who have given their lives to developing sport for young people but they have reached a stage in the past ten years where they are almost afraid to do so. We know paedophiles find their way to children so they can groom them. Not only must we protect children but we must protect those who work with them and who are happy to know we have run the rule over them so they can look people in the eye and need not be overly careful. Those working voluntarily with young people are making a very significant contribution to society.

3:00 pm

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It will be difficult in the time available to address all the issues raised very effectively by Senators. I thank Senators for their tremendous contributions. When we talk about youth affairs, we talk about the non-formal side of education. Given the type of consultation which took place prior to the enactment of the Youth Work Act and the national development plan, it is important we adhere to the legislation and ensure the plan is rolled out.

A number of Senators said young people can sometimes be stereotyped. One way to address that is to deal with those who work on a daily basis with youth organisations and who know the positive sides of youth and how best to address difficulties if they arise. That is why we must follow through with the framework we have in regard to these two documents.

We talk about the non-formal side of education because the formal side perhaps does not suit many young people. They are able to develop their personalities, skills and talents through the non-formal side of education and that is where the youth sector comes into play. It is important not only for the formation of the individual but for a cohesive society.

It was interesting to note Dáil na nÓg met in March, to which Senator Brady referred. The issues under discussion and which are important to young people were facilities, interculturalism and migration. Those issues show how Ireland has changed.

Although we are discussing the non-formal side of education, I would be willing to come back to the House to debate further and adult education. There is positive news in the areas of Youthreach, VTOS, Travellers and the work I am doing in regard to child provision for those sectors to allow them to follow through on courses. We have rolled out guidance initiatives throughout the country. There is an emphasis on upskilling given the importance of the knowledge-based economy and implementing the Lisbon Agenda and the Bologna process. I have been able to appoint 35 community education facilitators within the VECs, which is important. I would also like to mention the national qualifications framework. These integrated measures have an immediate effect on young people. I would like an opportunity to discuss this at a later stage.

The issues discussed today concern the need for young people to have an opportunity to express their views in a safe environment and this is why the Department has grant-aided youth services and special projects for disadvantaged youths. It administers the young people's facilities and services fund and the local youth club grant schemes. The national youth health programme is run in partnership with the National Youth Council of Ireland and it is considered very important in the Department. Any Senator who is interested and involved in the issues pertaining to young people will know that the national youth arts programme is very important in giving young people an opportunity to develop and express themselves.

The importance of Léargas and Gaisce were referred to. The Department has allocated an extra €2 million from the dormant accounts fund to improve the facilities of youth clubs. This goes to the very heart of the matter, as does the allocation of an additional €1 million for mainstreaming 24 projects under the young people's facilities and services fund.

The question of facilities was raised. It is very important that we afford young people opportunities in a very safe environment. Many young people are looking for facilities that have no connection with alcohol. There is one such facility in Galway and another in Clare and these models could be used in the future.

We want to consider the national recreation policy for youths between 13 and 18 years. This issue was raised and is very important. We are represented on the steering group by the Minister of State with responsibility for children. The school planning section of the Department is involved in discussions with a number of local authorities to make sites available for young people. It is a question of giving them a chance to enjoy themselves. We should be in a position to use as many facilities in situ as possible.

Senator Minihan should note that we have increased the number of recognised PLC places by 1,600 since 2005. We recognise the tremendous value of the PLC system and it is important we address matters that arise in this regard in light of discussions on the knowledge economy and inclusion.

Reference was made to the McIver report, the recommendations of which will cost €48 million to implement. The report refers to the need for 800 new teachers and it will have a knock-on effect in the education sector. A number of industrial relations issues need to be addressed in this regard. I asked my officials some time ago to have in-depth discussions with the Irish Vocational Education Association. These have taken place and the results will be made available to me, through my officials, in the next few days. I hope there will be an agreed way to move forward regarding the principles, ethos and practical implications of the report.

So much could be said on this subject. I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members of the Seanad for deciding to have this debate and for inviting me to address them this afternoon.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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May I put the record straight? Senator Moylan referred to there being no Member of the Opposition in the House. I apologise as I had to leave to meet somebody. I am deputising for another Senator today.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Point taken.