David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 32 of 3 November 2011, the progress that has been made in her Department's review of the operation of the Youth Work Act 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23990/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware two policy developments the Youth Work Act, 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 have provided the impetus for much of the development in the youth work sector in recent years. The Youth Work Act was introduced in 2001 and outlines a number of structural arrangements for the organisation and administration of youth work policy and provision.

While the Youth Work Act established a structure for youth work, the National Youth Work Development Plan outlined an action plan for the development of the youth work sector for the period of 2003 - 2007.

My Department is currently developing an overarching Children and Young People's Policy Framework for 2012 – 2017. The new Policy Framework will provide the basis for more detailed strategies including an Early Years Strategy and a new Youth Policy Framework. It is intended that the Youth Work Act, 2001 will be reviewed in the context of the development of the Youth Policy Framework.