David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the sections of the Youth Work Act 2001 that have been implemented to date; her plans for the implementation of the remaining sections of the Act; the funding that has been available to date for the implementation of the national youth work development plan; the timescale for the implementation of the plan; her estimate of the cost each year for the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9756/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Youth Work Act 2001 provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the vocational education committees and national and regional youth work organisations. Section 1 of the Act provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. Sections 2 to 7, inclusive, 17, 18 and 24 have been commenced to date.

A sub-committee of the national youth work advisory committee, representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as my Department is engaged in ongoing work, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures which are necessary for the further implementation of the Act. It is considered essential to have agreement between all the interested parties on the necessary procedures and to have these in place so that further implementation of the Act can take place in a satisfactory and structured manner. The Department is currently in discussion with the various parties involved and when these discussions are finalised, it is intended to continue the phased implementation of further sections of the Act, as is necessary and appropriate.

As regards the national youth work development plan, €580,000 has been expended to date on a number of priority action areas. The plan covers a five-year period from 2003 to 2007 and the cost for each of the coming years will be dependent on the action areas identified and agreed for implementation each year. Action areas for implementation for 2005 are currently being considered in the light of a submission made to me by the Irish Vocational Education Association, the CEOs association and the National Youth Council of Ireland. The financial provision required on a yearly basis will, therefore, be determined by the actions of the plan identified and agreed for implementation each year having regard to available financial resources.