David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 696: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the responsibility for youth services as outlined in Sections 9, 13 and 19 of the Youth Work Act 2001 is to be transferred to the vocational education committees; if so, when these sections are to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28934/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Section 1 of the Youth Work Act, 2001 provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. Sections 2-7, 17, 18 and 24 have been commenced to date.

A sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC), representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as of my Department, has been progressing the groundwork, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures, which are vital for the further coherent implementation of the Act. The work of NYWAC continues in this regard.

Significant progress has been made since 2006 in the roll out of the Act at local level. A structure for the resourcing of VECs to carry out the functions set out for them under the Youth Work Act, 2001 was agreed between my Department and the Irish Vocational Education Association (on behalf of the 33 VECs) in July 2006. This structure provided for the appointment of a number of Youth Officers (21.5 posts) to be shared by 25 VECs and outlined the salary scale and functions of the posts. In addition, existing posts in the remaining eight VECs were re-desingated as Youth Officer posts.

I will determine further sections of the Act for implementation, having regard to the advice of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, as the necessary procedures are finalised and as resources permit.