Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the membership of the working group developing the youth framework for young persons and early school leavers; the number of meetings held by the working group to date; the groups and individuals with whom it has consulted; when the youth framework will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11391/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Working Group developing a training and employment Framework for young persons and early school leavers is chaired by the Director of Curriculum and Quality Assurance at FÁS. The Group comprises representatives from all of the relevant Divisions within FÁS including its Employment, Community, Training and Service to Business Divisions as well as its Planning and Research Unit and Social Inclusion Unit. The aim of the Working Group is to develop a Youth Framework that will succinctly draw together FÁS's commitment to young people and early school leavers. Specifically it will detail in a comprehensive way all programmes and initiatives available to this target group including access and progression options. Monitoring procedures and an evaluation process will form part of the Framework to measure the effectiveness of services.

The first meeting of the Group took place in December 2009 and to date three meetings have been held. Both internal and external consultation will take place over the course of the development of this Framework. At the next meeting a representative of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) will make a presentation to the Group. This will be the first of four presentations with the other three focussing on specific employment, training and social inclusion initiatives within FÁS. The Working Group's discussions are due for completion in June of this year at which point an initial report will be circulated for wider consultation to other relevant bodies including the National Youth Council of Ireland, Youthwork Ireland and Youthreach. It is hoped that the Youth Framework will be published in the final quarter of 2010.