Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Youthreach Programme is an Inter-Departmental initiative which provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who are at least six months in the labour market and who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training.

The programme funded by my Department is delivered in out of school centres and is managed by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). There are a total of ninety Youthreach Centres managed by the VEC sector throughout the country. Overall, there are about 6,500 places available nationally at present, 3,250 of which are in the VEC sector and the remainder in Community Training Centres under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Basic skills training, practical work training and general education are features of the programme, and the application of new technology is integrated into all aspects of programme content. The programme provides a strong emphasis on personal development, on the core skills of literacy/ numeracy, communications and IT, along with a choice of vocational options such as Catering, Hairdressing, Computers, Woodwork, Photography, Video, Sports, Art and Craft and a work experience programme. Expenditure on the programme in 2005 was nearly €47 million. In addition my Department provides funding to VEC's annually to assist towards the childcare expenses of participants in Youthreach.

The Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015 — Towards 2016 provides a commitment to increase places on the Youthreach programme by 1,000 places by the end of 2009. I was delighted to be able to announce in the Estimates for 2007, that funding is being made available to begin working towards that target. 400 places out of the total 1,000 will be made available in 2007.