Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 April 2015
84. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support the role of the voluntary sector as the prime provider of youth work here, consistent with the Youth Work Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16865/15]
View answerMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2015, funding of €49.9m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. There has been no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015. This was an important priority for the voluntary youth organisations that have a key role in the provision of quality youth work services for young people.
Ongoing engagement and dialogue with the voluntary youth sector organisations and with young people themselves are priorities in the formulation of policies and provision of services to support young people’s development and learning. My Department works closely with the youth sector interests in various fora in developing key initiatives.
The Youth Work Act 2001 provides for certain arrangements to do with the organisation and administration of youth work policy and provision. Since the enactment of the Youth Work Act, in 2001 and the publication of the National Youth Development Plan in 2003, there have been significant policy and legislative developments that are relevant to the provision of youth services, including the introduction of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is now developing a National Youth Strategy. The National Youth Strategy will focus on the youth-related policy commitments outlined in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures 2014 - 2020, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10 to 24 years. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore in most need of support.
The National Youth Strategy is being developed in close consultation with statutory youth interests and the voluntary youth organisations and services that work with young people. A National Youth Strategy Task Group, convened by my Department, is overseeing its development. This Task Group comprises representatives of Government Departments, relevant agencies, business, academia and the voluntary youth organisations. A comprehensive consultation with youth stakeholders, including volunteers and young people on the priorities for the youth strategy has recently concluded. My Department is working to finalise the new National Youth Strategy by early Summer.
