Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the introduction of the Youth Work Act 2001; her plans for the roll-out of more of the services for young people in the second half of 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23838/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, 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.

As I advised the Deputy previously, a sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors, has been steadily progressing the groundwork, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures, which are vital for the further rollout of the Act in a planned and structured manner. To date work has been completed on the following:

1. Criteria for the Approval of National Voluntary Youth Work Organisations

2. Criteria for the Designation of Local Voluntary Youth Work Organisations

3. Guidelines for the Establishment of Voluntary Youth Councils.

Work on other areas including Standing Orders for Local Voluntary Youth Councils, Terms of Reference for Youth Work Committees, and Criteria for The Authorisation of Organisations is nearing completion. The sub-committee is also addressing other provisions of the Act.

It is my intention that the additional €2.839m secured in 2006 for the main funding line for the youth work sector will be used to develop the youth work service in a strategic manner and will include the progressive roll out of the Youth Work Act, 2001. The resourcing of VECs, including the appointment of Youth Work Officers, to carry out the functions set out for them under the Act has been agreed in principle by my Department and the IVEA. My Department is currently finalising the detail involved. This will be a significant step forward which will allow for the development of local youth work plans and ensure co-ordination of youth work programmes and services in the area with education and other programmes for young people.

I identified the capacity development of voluntary youth work organisations to assist them in preparing themselves organisationally for the implementation of the Act as a priority for 2005. To this end I established a Development Fund to help ensure that youth work organisations can achieve the new standards for approval and engage effectively with the new structures arising from the Youth Work Act, 2001. Some 30 national and major regional youth organisations received once-off grants amounting to over €300,000 to help develop their ICT capacity in 2005. I am making similar funding available to national and major voluntary youth work organisations in 2006 and my Department is currently discussing priority areas for development with the various youth work interests.

With regard to the roll-out of more services for young people, my Department is currently identifying priority areas for development and expansion in 2006. It is my intention to announce the allocation of funding to youth organisations and youth projects very shortly. The establishment of a National Youth Work Development Unit in the National University of Ireland in Maynooth will be a key element in the development of youth work. Its functions will include researching and developing guidelines for best practice in youth work and assisting youth organisations to implement same, as well as managing and coordinating research. Another new and important development is the imminent appointment of an Assessor of Youth Work. This post is viewed by all involved in youth work, both in the statutory and voluntary sectors, as an essential step forward.

In addition, I would like to point out that my Department has secured an additional €2m in 2006 from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs which is responsible for the disbursement of Dormant Accounts (via the Economic and Social Disadvantage Committee). This provision will focus on small capital grants for equipment for local youth clubs and will complement my Department's existing Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.