The youth work sector has received unprecedented financial support over the past number of years. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidating current provision.
The 2008 provision of €52.6m for Youth Affairs will enable the high level of provision achieved over recent years to be maintained as well as a continued focus on the further consolidation of existing provision.
With regard to the National Youth Work Development plan, steady progress has been made in the implementation of a number of priority actions, as identified by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee. These include areas such as Child Protection, upgrade of one worker projects to two-worker status, the establishment of a North/South Education and Training Standards Committee for youth work and the capacity development of youth work organisations to engage with the provisions of the Youth Work Act, 2001. Ongoing support is being provided in respect of these and other initiatives.
With regard to the Youth Work Act, 2001, Section 1 provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. Sections 2-7, 17, 18 and 24 have been commenced to date.
A sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC), representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as of my Department, has been progressing the groundwork, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures, which are vital for the further coherent implementation of the Act. The work of NYWAC continues in this regard.
Significant progress has been made since 2006 in the roll out of the Act at local level. This includes the assignment of Youth Officers and related financial support to the VEC sector.