Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to provide extra resources to progress the implementation of the national youth work development plan and the Youth Work Act 2001 on a phased and prioritised basis. [47988/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to support a new youth work development plan for the period 2008 to 2012. [47989/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together.

The youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of some sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001 and actions cited in the National Youth Work Development Plan, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidating current provision. The 2008 provision of €52.6m for Youth Affairs enabled the high level of provision achieved over recent years to be maintained with a continuing focus on consolidation of services. It is my intention that the 2009 Youth Affairs budget of over €48m will continue to focus on supporting existing youth programmes and services for some 420,000 young people.

With regard to the Youth Work Act, 2001, the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 and the development of a further Plan, sub-committees of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC), representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors, are currently reviewing the progress made to date in respect of both the Act and the Plan and are preparing recommendations for NYWAC to present to me regarding the next steps to be taken. I will consider the advice of this Committee having regard to the progress already made, the needs of our young people with regard to youth work opportunities and the resources available for Youth Affairs in 2009.