Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the National Youth Council of Ireland campaign for an allocation of €10 million to progress the implementation of the national youth work development plan; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that half the required moneys were made available in 2004; if the required moneys will be made available in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32414/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the National Youth Council of Ireland's current campaign for the allocation of additional funding for the development of youth work in Ireland, including the further implementation of the national youth work development plan. The financial provision for the main funding line for the youth work sector in 2005 represents an 18% increase over 2004 and brings that financial provision to €33.889 million in 2005. This additional funding is catering for a number of developments under the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan and for enhancements to existing youth work programmes and services.

With regard to the national youth work development plan, to date additional funding has been provided in the following areas: the establishment of ten new special projects for disadvantaged youth; the upgrade of 20 single worker special projects to two worker projects; review of youth work funding; review of youth information provision; continued support of the child protection training programme; establishment of a development fund for youth work organisations; North-South youth work training endorsement panel. It is expected that in the region of €1.6 million will be expended in 2005 on these and other action areas which are currently being progressed.

I am acutely conscious of the valuable work being carried out in the youth work sector and I assure the Deputy of my ongoing support for the sector and its work.