Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
605. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 15 February 2024, the estimated cost of conducting a scoping exercise and workforce development plan for the youth work sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10826/24]
View answerYouth workers and volunteers are central to the delivery of youth services to young people. The relationships which young people develop with their youth workers or volunteer leaders can be transformative to a young person's life.
I have committed to developing a workforce development plan for the youth sector, to support the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers in the sector. My officials are currently carrying out preparatory work on the development of the plan, and will be carrying out consultation with stakeholders, including youth workers and volunteers, youth organisations, young people and providers of youth work training.
It is not possible at this stage to to accurately estimate the cost of a scoping exercise for the workforce development plan, or the cost of implementation of such a plan. The first phase of this exercise will, as indicated, be undertaken by my own officials, within existing resources.
