Written answers

Tuesday, 8 November 2005

Department of Education and Science

Youth Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of funding allocated to the national youth work development plan; the level of funding estimated to implement the plan in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32704/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The national youth work development plan, together with the Youth Work Act 2001, provides a framework for youth work in Ireland. The plan identifies four main goals and proposes 50 action points to achieve these goals over a five-year period.

To date, a number of priority action areas have been addressed. In 2003, €80,000 was spent on the implementation of a child protection training programme for the sector. In 2004, €500,000 was made available for the roll-out of the plan and was spent on further support for the child protection training programme, development of projects funded under the special projects for youth scheme and increased support to youth information centres and the youth information support partnership. In 2005, an 18% increase in the main funding line for the youth work sector has been provided. 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 services.

With regard to the national youth work development plan, to date in 2005, 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 and 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. The financial provision required for 2006 and 2007 will be determined by the actions of the plan identified and agreed for implementation each year, having regard to available financial resources.

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