asked the Minister for Education if he has received a request from the Council of Youth Clubs of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to publish the Government's youth policy in the immediate future; and if and when this publication will be available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Policy.
37.
Yes, I have recently received such a request from the Council of Youth Clubs of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 20 to 24 on 11th February last and to the Minister for Education's intervention in a Dáil debate on 27th May on this subject.
Can we soon expect a published youth policy from the Parliamentary Secretary?
I am not in a position to say exactly what date.
The Parliamentary Secretary will appreciate that almost since he took office, at least since he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, those concerned with youth organisations have been waiting impatiently for this publication. Can the Parliamentary Secretary give an indication as to when we can expect it?
The position is that if youth organisations can indicate to me specific problems they are having which arise from the non-publication of this document, I will, as I have done in quite a number of cases already, make every possible effort to meet them. It is not helpful to talk about general difficulties which are arising.
The Parliamentary Secretary seems to be adopting a totally negative approach when he talks in terms of simply solving specific problems. I would have thought the Parliamentary Secretary would acknowledge that the publication of a youth policy would not just be to solve specific problems but to set a positive direction. Can we take it that the Parliamentary Secretary is considering positive initiatives and positive proposals? If so, when can we expect to get them?
The answer to the first part of the question is emphatically "yes". In relation to the latter part of the question I am not in a position to give a date.
Has this anything to do with the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary—I do not blame him personally for this—has now been given a second responsibility as assistant to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
This is not relevant.
I think it is a very relevant question. Does this help the Parliamentary Secretary?
38.
asked the Minister for Education the names of the members of the Advisory Committee on Youth which was set up to advise him on youth policy.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in tabular form the information requested by the Deputy.
Following is the information:
Panel of Advisers on Youth Affairs.
Chairman: Mr. John Bruton, T.D., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education.
|
Name |
Address |
|
Mr. Seán Barrett |
Economics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2. |
|
Mr. Robert Buckley |
County Cork V.E.C., County Hall, Cork. |
|
Mrs. Helen Burke |
Social Science Department University College, Dublin 4. |
|
Mr. Matthew Dempsey |
Editor, Farmer's Journal, Griffith Rath, Celbridge, County Kildare. |
|
Miss Bríd Foy |
City of Dublin V.E.C., “Winstead”, 25 Temple Road, Dublin 6. |
|
Fr. James Gormley |
Scoil Ard Mhuire, Lusk, County Dublin. |
|
Mr. Richard Langford, Principal |
Regional Technical College, Cork Road, Waterford. |
|
Fr. Peter Lemass |
Dublin Diocesan Press Office The Red House, Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3. |
|
Mr. Paddy Walley |
Community Development Division, Department of Psychiatry University College, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. |
|
Mr. Patrick Neary |
Department of Education. |
|
Liam Ó Laidhin |
Department of Education. |
Secretary—Tony Ó Dálaigh, An Roinn Oideachais.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that if he is, indeed, presenting an increase in grant aid from a small base, as he has said, as being very significant progress, every youth organisation from the National Youth Council to the Federation of Diocesan Youth Clubs has been screaming for the publication of a youth policy for the last six to 12 months? Is the Parliamentary Secretary now saying that he has not heard their voices or is he saying that they have no cause to shout?
I am not saying that I have not heard their voices. I am well aware of their concern on this matter. I have indicated to them that there are specific problems——
That is a lot of nonsense.
The proposals I am preparing are very comprehensive and, therefore, involve consultation with other areas in the educational field and with other Departments which are concerned with the provision of amenities and so on.
For how many years have these been in progress?
These consultations are necessary.
Have the Government considered the youth policy document which he has submitted to them?
No.
Does the Minister consider it right that a specific problem of a youth club which I sent to him was answered by the Parliamentary Secretary sending them a copy of a Private Members' debate? Did he think that sufficient answer to people who are interested in youth?
I am not aware of that.
Had the Advisory Committee any views to express on the Government termination of the amenity grants and what effect it would have on youth policy?
They did not.