My Department's Youth Affairs Section provides support for a number of schemes and initiatives designed to ensure the provision of non-formal educational opportunities for young people throughout the country. It provides grant-aid assistance for national and major regional youth organisations under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, for special projects for disadvantaged young people under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. It also supports a range of other youth work programmes and initiatives inter alia Gaisce — the President's Award, Léargas — the Exchange Bureau and the National Youth Health Programme.
Under the terms of the Youth Work Act, 2001, Vocational Education Committees (VECs) are to assume certain responsibilities for the provision of youth work programmes and services at local level including the drafting of three-year youth work development plans for their area. In drafting such plans, VECs are required to liaise with local youth work organisations and interests to ascertain the existing service provision and to identify any possible gaps or emerging needs. In 2006 I have assigned a number of youth officer posts to the VEC sector to carry out the designated VEC functions of the Act at local level. The additional resources being provided to the VECs will facilitate a coordinated and appropriate youth work response to local needs.
My Department recently appointed an Assessor of Youth Work. The Assessor will support the development of good youth work practice by monitoring and evaluating youth work projects and programmes supported by my Department. At present, the Assessor in consultation with the National Youth work Advisory Committee, NYWAC, is developing an Assessment/Quality Standards Framework. In a related development, my Department is at present in the process of establishing a National Youth Work Development Unit in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, NUIM, with a remit of researching and developing guidelines for best practice in youth work, and managing and coordinating research as well as piloting innovation and new initiatives.