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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Other Questions. - Youth Services.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

48 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional funding which has been provided in his Department's Estimates for 2004 for youth work and to allow for the implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30915/03]

The funding for the youth affairs section of my Department for 2004 is €28.124 million, which represents a 4% increase in funding over 2003. Between 1997 and 2004, provision for the youth work sector has increased by more than 60%.

It is intended that the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 will be implemented on a phased and prioritised basis as resources permit, following agreement on financial provisions with the Minister for Finance. As a first step, it is intended to appoint an assessor of youth work and also to commence the first phase of the child protection training programme for the youth sector. Given the discussion on the previous question, all of us agree it is important that codes of practice are put in place. I was happy to publish the code of practice in September 2002. I have stated that the child protection training programme should be one of the first priorities to be implemented in terms of the national youth work development plan.

As regards the Youth Work Act 2001, which provides a statutory basis for the development of youth work in Ireland, it was not the intention that the Act would be fully implemented immediately. Section 1 of the Act provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. To date, sections 2 to 17, inclusive, 18 and 24 have been commenced. The implementation of further sections will depend on the availability of the necessary resources. I assure the Deputy and youth work organisations of my continuing support for the work of the youth sector and that I will continue to seek additional funding for the sector in the future.

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. The youth sector identified the need for an extra €5 million in the budget, but it received only an extra €1 million, which was disappointing. It is not the Minister of State's fault that she was not able to be here to fight that corner, although I know she did her best from her sick bed. Given that she is fighting fit again, perhaps she could find the extra €4 million. The Minister showed in response to an earlier question by Deputy Enright that he is adroit at transferring funds from one place to another when he underspends. I commend Mr. Kevin Hickey, president of the National Youth Council of Ireland, on his recent figures. He estimated that there were a total of 54,506 horses and greyhounds in the country and that each horse and greyhound received funding of €23.6 per week, while every young person only gets €1 per week in youth funding. It seems it is better to be a horse or a greyhound than a young person in need of youth funding. That issue should be prioritised in the coming year. Some 40,000 volunteers do valuable work, which prevents significant levels of anti-social behaviour.

I thank the Deputy for her kind wishes. I am aware the National Youth Council of Ireland referred to a sum of €5 million. I have a good working relationship with the council and I will continue to work closely with it. I know it is embarking on an information campaign to ensure the work done in the youth sector is acknowledged. All of us support the further allocation of money to this sector. I have worked and will continue to work to ensure that further money is made available. I assure the Deputy on my behalf and on behalf of the Minister that we would love to have more money in the Department because we would know where to funnel it to meet the specific needs of the youth sector. The Government is committed to the youth sector. There has been a cumulative increase of 60% over the past six years since 1997. The provision of further sums of money is important because we want to facilitate the appointment of youth development officers and the establishment of youth work committees, local voluntary youth councils and administrative back-up.

It will be necessary to continue discussions with the Irish Vocational Education Association and the chief executive officers about the further implementation of sections of the Act. I look forward to working with the vocational education committees and the youth organisations to see how best we can implement that. I am sure the Deputy is aware that a sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee is currently developing detailed guidelines and procedures relating to the further implementation of the Act. It has been of tremendous help to me as Minister of State with responsibility for the youth sector. I look forward to working with the organisations because we all want to achieve the same goals. I assure the Deputy that although we do not have €5 million to spend at this stage, I will continue to work to increase the funding available in the Department for the youth sector.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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