Written answers

Wednesday, 5 April 2006

Department of Education and Science

Youth Services

9:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the sections of the Youth Work Act 2001 that have yet to be commenced; the amount that has been made available each year towards the implementation of the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 since its launch; the amount she expects to make available up to the end of the plan in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13205/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Youth Work Act 2001 provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the vocational education committees and national and regional youth work organisations. Section 1 of the Act provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. Sections 2 to 7, inclusive, 17, 18 and 24 have been commenced to date.

A sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as my Department, has been steadily developing the groundwork, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures, which are vital for the further roll-out of the Act in a planned and structured manner. The work of this sub-committee is continuing.

As a priority for 2005, I identified the capacity development of youth work organisations to assist them in preparing themselves organisationally for the implementation of the Act. I established a development fund for youth work organisations to help ensure that they can achieve the new standards for approval and engage effectively with the new structures arising from the Youth Work Act 2001. Around 30 national and major regional youth organisations received once-off grants in 2005, ranging up to €15,000, to help develop their ICT capacity. Over €300,000 was provided for this fund in 2005 and similar funding will be made available in 2006.

Another area receiving priority attention is the capacity development of VECs to carry out their responsibilities under the terms of the Act. Progress has been made in this respect. A structure for the resourcing of VECs to carry out the functions set out for them under the Act has now been agreed, in principle, between my Department and the Irish Vocational Education Association, and I propose to approve a number of additional youth officer posts to VECs as a result. An interview process has taken place for the appointment of an assessor of youth work and the Public Appointments Service is currently finalising various details and procedures relating to the appointment. The appointment of an assessor of youth work will be a most important and positive development for the youth work sector. Work on the progressive implementation of the Act will continue, with further sections being implemented as the necessary procedures are finalised and as resources permit, both human and financial.

Approximately €2.12 million has been spent on the national youth work development plan since its launch in 2003. 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 which was spent on the ongoing support of 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. Building on these initiatives, in 2005 a total of €1.54 million in 2005 was spent on the progressive roll out of the actions recommended in the plan including the following: the establishment of ten new special projects for disadvantaged youth, costing €460,000; the upgrade of 20 single worker special projects to two worker projects, costing €460,000; a review of youth work funding, costing €72,500; a review of youth information provision and additional youth information support, costing €72,000; continued support of the child protection training programme, costing €118,000; establishment of a development fund for youth work organisations, costing €300,000; North-South youth work training endorsement panel; and establishment of a national youth work development unit in NUI, Maynooth.

Further action areas for development in 2006 and 2007 are being determined by my Department with the advice of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee. Significant progress has been made, which will continue to be built upon in 2006 by my Department working closely with the various youth work interests.

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