Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the priority objectives (details supplied) of the national youth work development plan have not been progressed to date; the timeframe for implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30334/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply of 11 October 2005 on the priorities for the development of the youth work sector identified for 2005. The following is the up-to-date position. With regard to the Youth Work Act 2001, discussions are continuing between my Department and the Department of Finance on the resources being sought by VECs to fulfil their requirements under the Act. Following recent discussions with the Public Appointments Service regarding the recruitment process, it is now intended that this post will be advertised in the coming weeks. A sub-committee of the national work youth advisory committee, comprising representatives of both the voluntary and statutory sectors, has been established recently to draw up criteria for the dispersal of the development fund. It is expected that the amount of €250,000 provided for this fund in 2005 will be expended this year.

As regards the youth work development unit recommended in the national youth work development plan, I am investigating a range of options for the implementation of a development unit structure and I would hope to be able to make an announcement on this in the near future.