Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding allocated towards youth work for 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13331/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the total budgetary provision for youth work purposes within my Department amounts to €47.037 million in 2006, an increase of almost 15% on the 2005 allocation.

In addition to meeting existing funding commitments for long-established schemes, the following priority areas will be supported in 2006: a structure for the resourcing of VECs to carry out their functions under the terms of the Youth Work Act 2001 has 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 vocational education committees in this regard; a selection and interview process has been undertaken by the Public Appointments Service for an assessor of youth work. The Public Appointments Service is currently finalising various details and procedures relating to the appointment. Funding for the post will be provided in 2006; work on the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 will continue in 2006 on a number of fronts, with funding as appropriate. Initiatives include the following: A process for the Garda vetting of new youth work staff and volunteers which will come into effect from the third quarter of 2006 is being agreed between my Department, youth work organisations and the central Garda vetting unit. The national youth work development unit is being established on a pilot basis within the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. A development fund was established in 2005 to assist youth organisations in preparing themselves for the implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001. Thirty national and major regional youth organisations received once-off grants totalling €300,000 in 2005. Funding will be available for further organisational development in 2006 and I am awaiting the advice of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee in this regard.

Funding will continue in 2006 to meet ongoing commitments in relation to the many schemes supported by my Department, including the youth services grant scheme, special projects for youth, youth information centres and the local youth club grant scheme.

An additional 24 projects were mainstreamed in 2006 under the young people's facilities and services fund which aims, through the provision of services, to divert "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas from the dangers of substance misuse. An additional €1.191 million has been provided for this purpose, bringing total funding for these projects to over €8 million in 2006.

Also available in 2006 is a €2 million once-off allocation from the dormant accounts fund. This tranche of funding will focus on small capital grants for the provision of equipment and improvements to facilities for local youth clubs. This scheme will complement my Department's local youth club grant scheme which is administered through a number of vocational educational committees.

As Minister I am delighted to have secured this additional funding for the youth work sector and this substantial increase is further evidence of the Government's commitment to the young people of Ireland. It recognises the value of youth work as a non-formal educational and developmental intervention which can enhance the personal and social development of young people and can be a significant force in combating social exclusion. I am particularly pleased with the scale of these additional funds as they provide my Department with the means to progress a number of very important policy issues as well as the ongoing support of youth work provision by voluntary youth organisations and youth clubs locally.