Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the work and progress of the North South Education and Training Standards Committee for the Professional Endorsement of Youth Work Training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39939/06]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the education and training programmes and awards in youth work that have been approved by the North South Education and Training Standard Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39941/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together.

A North/South 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 (NYWAC) and the Youth Council of Northern Ireland, National Youth Agency in Leicester and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. I was happy to launch this initiative with Minister Angela Smith. The establishment of such a committee was recommended in the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007. The Committee's purpose is, having developed a comprehensive framework for accreditation and certification in youth work on an All Ireland basis, to professionally endorse relevant youth work qualifications provided in the first instance by Higher Education Institutions. In this regard, the Dundalk Institute of Technology had its Degree Programme in Youth Work endorsed for accreditation in September 2006 by the Committee. Submissions from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth for endorsement of their youth work courses are being considered by the Committee at present.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding allocated to the work of the National Youth Council of Ireland; the additional funding granted for special projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39940/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme administered by the Youth Affairs Section of my Department and is the prescribed national representative youth work organisation under the terms of the Youth Work Act, 2001. The financial allocation to the NYCI from my Department for 2006 is €691,897. The total allocation to date in 2006 for the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, which targets our most marginalised young people, is €17.052 million, an increase of €1.32 million over 2005. There is provision for an increase in baseline funding for the scheme in the 2007 estimates.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the work and progress of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39942/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC) was appointed in April 2002 under the Youth Work Act, 2001 for a period of up to five years. The main function of this Committee is to advise the Minister on the development of youth work policy. Some eight sub-committees/working groups have been working on a range of issues since 2002 including a sub-committee charged with the development of guidelines and criteria for the roll out of the Act. Such detailed guidelines and criteria are considered by all youth work interests to be necessary to ensure that the Act is rolled out in a strategic and coherent manner. I am glad to report that these guidelines and criteria are nearing completion. Other sub-committees are currently assisting with issues such as Child Protection for the youth work sector, youth welfare issues including alcohol misuse, the role of youth work in addressing educational disadvantage and assisting consultants in reviews of youth work funding and youth information provision. The NYWAC also assisted in the planning and organisation of the Third National Youth Conference which I held in Croke Park in October this year. This Committee is a valuable source of advice to me and my Department and its work and commitment to youth work issues is highly regarded.