Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 April 2024
196. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he intends to align Youthreach centres for education with second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18301/24]
View answerThe Youthreach programme is a national programme of full-time education and training for early school leavers. It provides integrated education, training, and work experience for unemployed early school leavers generally between 16 and 20 years of age and is delivered in two settings, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres.
The 2015 Youthreach Operator Guidelines provide for learners to normally complete the programme in two years and for the Youthreach year to be 225 days, with learners being required to attend for 208 days. Accordingly, Youthreach is a longer programme than that applying in schools.
Many Youthreach providers offer summer programmes, with opportunities for extra curricular activities, community projects and work experience modules to build the transversal skills of participants. The value of summer programmes has been identified in inspection reports of Youthreach undertaken by the Inspectorate in the Department of Education.
I am also aware of references to staff concerns raised in the ESRI’s Evaluation of the Youthreach Programme regarding learner attendance during the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays when schools were on holidays. A union representing Youthreach Co-ordinators and Youthreach Resource Persons has submitted a claim in respect of both grades, which officials are engaging with under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. During this engagement, the length of the Youthreach year was raised and my officials undertook an analysis of Youthreach attendance data which found that overall average attendance levels were 6% lower during the summer programme than the rest of the year. There were issues with attendance evident in some ETBs, but not all.
There is an Operational Guidelines Working Group operating under the auspices of Education and Training Boards Ireland, which is developing revised and updated guidelines for the sector, including for the Community Training Centres who offer the Youthreach Programme. The work of the Group is expected to be completed in June 2024.
