Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of funding for the youth affairs section of her Department over the past five years; the priority projects for youth schemes during that period; the benefits that have accrued from same; the other matters under consideration by the youth affairs section of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33722/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The level of funding for the Youth Affairs Section of my Department and for the youth work sector has increased significantly over the past five years. Funding allocations to the sector from 2002-2006 are as follows:

2002: €26.066m

2003: €27.499m

2004: €35.545m

2005: €41.004m

2006: €45,037m.

In addition, I am proposing to make a further €2m from the Dormant Accounts Fund available to local youth clubs and groups on a one-off basis for small scale equipment grants over the coming months.

This increased funding has enabled my Department to provide support for a number of youth work programmes and initiatives including long established schemes such as the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Youth Service Grant Scheme, a network of Youth Information Centres, the Young Peoples' Facilities and Services Fund and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme. It has also facilitated the phased implementation of two major policy initiatives i.e. the Youth Work Act, 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007, which are closely inter-linked and provide a framework for the development of the sector.

More particularly, over the 2002-2006 period, progress has been made in a number of important areas including:

Development of the Special Projects for Youth Scheme: This is a key action point under the National Youth Work Development Plan 2002-2007.

An Assessor of Youth Work was appointed in August 2006 for an initial period of two years to support the development of good practice in the youth work sector.

Child Protection: A National Child Protection Unit, based in the National Youth Council of Ireland, has led and co-ordinated training initiatives. In addition, Garda Vetting of new youth work employees and volunteers has been introduced from September 2006.

Establishment of a Development Fund for the youth work sector: A Development Fund to assist organisations in preparing themselves organisationally for the implementation of the Youth Work Act, 2001 was first established in 2005. Further funding has been made available in 2006 for this purpose.

Resourcing of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to carry out their functions under the Youth Work Act, 2001: A structure agreed between my Department and the IVEA in July 2006 provides for the appointment of 21.5 Youth Officers shared by 25 VECs. Existing posts already involved in youth work in the remaining eight VEC areas will assume Youth work Officer functions.

Establishment of a Development Unit Structure for the youth work sector: The National Youth Work Development Unit is being established on a pilot basis within the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. This structure is seen as central to the development of youth work.

North/South Education and Training Standards Committee: A North/South Committee for the endorsement of youth work training was established in 2005.

Other matters under consideration by the Youth Affairs Section of my Department include:

Reviews of Funding of Youth Work and of the Provision of Youth Information

Continued roll out of the Youth Work Act, 2001: This includes guidelines and criteria for the continued roll-out of the Act.

Terms of reference and work plan for the National Youth Work Development Unit, and

Finalisation of a Scheme of one-off grants for local youth clubs and groups from the Dormant Account Fund.