Denis Naughten
Question:5 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to carry out a national inventory into youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15092/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Youth Services.
In so far as my Department is concerned support for youth work is provided under two main headings: first, the youth service grant scheme, a scheme of annual grants to national and major regional voluntary youth work organisations such as the National Youth Council of Ireland, the National Youth Federation, etc.; and second, the grant scheme for projects to assist disadvantaged youth, which supports out of school youth work programmes and services for disadvantaged young people. I realise other significant activities are carried out by many organisations and groups in relation to youth work.
The National Youth Work Advisory Committee, established under the Youth Work Act, 1997, is undertaking on my behalf the production of a development plan for the provision of youth work services in this country. I understand that the advisory committee has established a sub-committee to prepare terms of reference for this undertaking. It is proposed that the development plan will: first, review the current youth work provision; second, carry out an overview of existing structures, local, regional and national; third, identify strategic objectives based on demonstrated demand; fourth, draw up a planned course of actions and programmes; and fifth, develop a comprehensive youth work development plan. This work would include the preparation of a national inventory of youth services as referred to by the Deputy. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when the committee will be in a position to present its plan to me.
I thank the Minister for his reply and am glad an inventory is being put in place but why has it taken so long? We have yet to see the Youth Work (Amendment) Bill. Many young people will have nothing to do this summer and services are not being provided. Does the Minister agree that at present there is little co-ordination between many of the organisations, and is he aware that there is even friction between them at national and local level? Does he not agree that the legislation should be brought forward and a proper, co-ordinated service should be implemented?
I am anxious that the legislation be brought forward as quickly as possible. The raison d'être for it is that the Government did not proceed with the regional education boards and the vocational education committees are to become the vehicle. There will be significant changes in the new youth work Bill. In December 1998, Government approval was given to proceed with the drafting of the new Bill and the draft Bill was subsequently forwarded to the parliamentary draftsman's office. We are expecting publication in the autumn. There is a considerable log jam in the draftsman's office, given Government legislative priorities, but I am anxious that we move forward.
We have allocated significant additional resources this year, over and above what was allocated last year, to youth services generally and to youth organisations.
Even though I am not directly dealing with this matter in so far as it is being dealt with by my colleague, the Minister of State, my recollections are that there was always tension among youth organisations in different localities throughout the country. That is undesirable because it leads to wasted time, energies and effort.
Will the Minister agree that while additional funding for youth services is welcome, some of those moneys are being spent inappropriately because there is not proper co-ordination among many of the bodies? Will the Minister ensure that a commitment is given regarding the partnership companies which are an integral part of the youth services in many counties, especially in disadvantaged areas? There is a question mark over the staff employed in these companies. Many cannot recruit staff because the partnership companies will cease to operate at the end of the year. The Minister's Department has responsibility for some of the co-ordinators in partnership companies. Will he give a commitment to provide funding next year to ensure these people can be retained in the partnership companies and that we will see the Youth Work (Amendment) Bill this year? The Minister gave me a commitment, and the Taoiseach gave a commitment in this House, that the Bill would be published in a number of months but we still have not seen it.
I accept the Deputy's concern about the need for co-ordination. I am as anxious as he that we have co-ordination and the youth work Bill, once implemented, will help in that regard, although structures are already in place which should facilitate co-ordination. Various checks and balances are in place in relation to proper accountability in terms of the spending of moneys. The matter of the partnerships has been examined by Government. I am not in a position today to give the definitive response—
Positive or negative?
—although, as the Deputy said, we have had much interaction with the partnerships throughout the country in terms of education projects they have undertaken. I am aware of the concern and the need to deal with that but it will be dealt with in the context of the overall national plan the Government is developing. We are conscious of that and people need a response on it.
A number of teachers have been seconded to the partnership companies. The Department has informed them that they have to make a decision by 1 August to either return to teaching or remain with the partnership companies. They need a decision on this matter.