Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Youthreach Programme aims to provide early school leavers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment.

There are 104 Youthreach Centres operated by the Education and Training Boards nationwide. Over 4,600 learners attended these Centres in 2013 and the attached table details these Centres along with their unique learner enrolments in 2023.The Youthreach Programme is also offered by the 31 Community Training Centres grant aided by the ETBs, with almost 2,300 learners attending CTCs in 2023.

The ESRI’s Evaluation of the National Youthreach Programmes in 2019 found that the Youthreach programme had significant value in re-engaging a vulnerable group of young people with learning, providing courses and approaches tailored to their needs and embedding education and training provision within a broader network of supports. It found clear and distinct value in the provision provided in both the Youthreach centre and CTC contexts.

With regard to the geographical location of Youthreach centres, the evaluation found significant geographical variability in the location of centres largely reflecting legacy issues rather than current need. Coupled with the recent decline in participation levels, the evaluation identified the need for an ongoing review of the allocation of programme places across and within ETB areas to ensure the optimal use of resources, noting that consolidation might be feasible in some local areas with multiple centres while acknowledging the need to balance this against the reluctance of many vulnerable young people to access provision outside their local comfort zone and the poorer outcomes found for larger centres.

In its response to the evaluation, SOLAS supported the continued provision in both Youthreach centres and CTC settings. It acknowledged the need for more coordinated and effective planning across all youth education and training at ETB level and proposed that ETBs consider appropriate youth education and training management arrangements and plans to improve coordination and collaboration across Youthreach centres and CTCs within their regions.

The National FET Strategy, Future FET, Transforming Learning 2020-2024 continues to apply the reports recommendations. Work is continuing between SOLAS and the ETBs to drive forward the vision outlined together including promoting Youthreach provisions.