David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 705: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been achieved to date regarding the implementation of the national youth work development plan; the amount that has been made available and the amount expended on the plan each year to date; her plans and timetable for the further implementation of the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22350/05]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 709: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made in the implementation of a child protection training programme for the youth work sector under the national youth work development plan. [22354/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 709 together.

The national youth work development plan, published in August 2003, identifies four main goals and proposes some 50 action points to achieve these goals over a five-year period. Work has commenced on certain priority areas as follows. 2003 an amount of €80,000 was allocated in 2003 to the implementation of the child protection training programme for the sector. In 2004 an amount of €500,000 was made available in 2004 for the roll-out of the plan and was expended on further support for the child protection training programme for the youth sector; the development of projects funded under the special projects for youth scheme; the Increased support to youth information centres and the youth information support partnership.

In 2005 an 18% increase in funding for the youth work sector has been provided for in the 2005 Estimates. This additional funding will cater for several developments under the national youth work development plan and the Youth Work Act 2001. The following measures, will be addressed as a result of this: additional funding; upgrading of some one worker special projects for youth; additional special projects for youth increase in local youth clubs grant scheme; development fund for youth organisations; funding review consultancy; youth information consultancy; special once-off funding for youth work organisations; continued funding for child protection training programme; North-South youth work training endorsement panel.

Additionally, funding is available for to the appointment of an assessor of youth work. My Department is also working towards the provision of resources for VECs to enable them fulfil their responsibilities under the Youth Work Act 2001. A portion of the funding will be allocated towards both of these matters. With regard to the implementation of a child protection programme for the youth work sector, the National Youth Council of Ireland appointed a national co-ordinator for child protection in December 2004 to manage and oversee its implementation.

The duties of the national co-ordinator include the development and implementation of a comprehensive awareness and training programme for the youth work sector based on the code of good practice, Child Protection for the Youth Work Sector, September 2002, as well as the assessment of the child protection training needs of the youth work sector. A preliminary needs analysis of youth organisations was carried out in January 2005 and this identified the priority need of training youth workers in a training of trainers programme. In April 2005, 19 youth workers commenced the keeping safe child protection training programme, accredited by the Open College Network. The final moderation of this programme will be in September 2005, when these workers will be accredited child protection trainers of trainers.

Work has also commenced on developing a national child protection basic awareness training programme. The keeping safe programme is also being modified and updated in order to seek national accreditation. An independent analysis of child protection needs will commence in September 2005 and a child protection workers' forum will take place in October 2005.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 706: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount that has been made available by her Department to the respective bodies and organisations in respect of youth work and youth affairs; the way in which the expenditure of such moneys has been accounted for and assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22351/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Financial allocations for 2005 for the youth work sector are being finalised. The Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, expects to be in a position to make an announcement in this respect in the near future. The respective bodies and organisations which receive grant-in-aid funding from the youth affairs section of my Department are required to account for the expenditure of such moneys in accordance with public accounting procedures for Government bodies. The organisations funded are also required to furnish annual reports, accounts and effectiveness reports of their activities, which are examined by my Department.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 707: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the actions her Department has taken for the appointment of an assessor of youth work; when the appointment will be made; the amount set aside in order to fund this appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22352/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This appointment is viewed as one of the key priorities for the youth sector. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance. My officials have made proposals to the Department of Finance for the appointment for which I have set aside up to €70,000. Subject to the Department of Finance response, I expect to be in a position to put recruitment procedures in place as soon as possible.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 708: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 266 of 23 March 2005, the various parties with whom discussions were taking place as mentioned in the reply; if these discussions are finalised; if not, when she expects them to be finalised; when the Youth Work Act 2001 will be fully implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22353/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Further to Parliamentary Question No. 266 of March 23 2005, discussions have taken place between my Department and representatives of the National Youth Council of Ireland and the IVEA-CEOs' association. These discussions are ongoing.

A sub-committee of the national youth work advisory committee is drafting detailed guidelines and procedures necessary for the further roll-out of the Youth Work Act 2001. The work of this sub-committee, which represents both the voluntary and the statutory sectors, is also ongoing. It is accepted by all involved in the youth sector that it is necessary that these procedures and guidelines should be put in place so that any further roll-out of the Youth Work Act 2001 can happen in a logical and coherent manner.