Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the name of the person who sits on the National Youth Council of Ireland North-South endorsement panel for youth work training; and the roles of this person. [11255/06]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the National Youth Council of Ireland's newly established North-South endorsement panel has a programme of work for 2006. [11256/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

The North-South Education and Training Standards Committee for the Professional Endorsement of Youth Work Training was established in October 2005 following detailed discussions between representatives of the national youth work advisory committee, Ireland, and the relevant agencies in Northern Ireland, namely, the Youth Council of Northern Ireland, YCNI, the National Youth Agency in Leicester and the Department of Education, Northern Ireland. The committee, based on an equal North-South partnership, comprises 20 members. Ten members from Ireland, representing the Department of Education and Science, the voluntary sector, the VECs, youth work practitioners and training institutions, were appointed in October 2005. The Northern membership was appointed by the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, YCNI, through its sub-committee, the youth work training board. A list of committee members representing Ireland is provided.

The role of the committee is, in the first instance, the professional endorsement of courses and programmes of education and training in youth work provided by higher education institutions. Guidelines and criteria for the approval or endorsement of programmes of education and training in youth work have been agreed. It is now open to providers of such programmes to apply to have their programmes and awards endorsed.

With regard to 2006, Dundalk Institute of Technology has sent a submission to the committee for professional endorsement of its youth work course. A small working group comprising members of the committee has been established to consider the submission. Other youth work training courses will be considered for professional endorsement later in 2006. Representatives from the South: Dr. Maurice Devlin (Co-Chair), Professor of Community and Youth Work Studies, National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Ms Mary Cunningham, the National Youth Council of Ireland; Mr. David Treacy, IVEA/CEOs' Association; Mr. Diarmuid Kearney, national youth work advisory committee; Mr. Peter Fuller, Dundalk Institute of Technology; Dr. Paul Burgess, University College, Cork; Mr. P. J. Breen, Department of Education and Science; Mr. Ray Devlin, youth work employer; Ms Fiona Scott, youth work practitioner; Ms Eleanor O'Sullivan, youth work practitioner.