Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
352. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether alignment of the Youthreach calendar year with the second level schools' calendar would be a cost-saving measure to public expenditure as well as a contribution to the educational delivery of the service, going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18531/24]
View answerThe Youthreach programme is a national full-time programme 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 Youthreach year is 225 days, with learners being required to attend for 208 days. Individual learner plans are developed for each Youthreach learner. While the precise configuration of the programme in each location is decided locally having regard to the individual learner and community needs and potential, the programme includes general education, vocational training and work experience as well as a variety of complementary experiences that build confidence and broaden horizons.
The Youthreach programme is staffed by Co-ordinators, Resource Persons and teachers with nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment. They have specific, clearly defined job descriptions. which were designed very much with the programmes structure in mind. Template contracts of employment for Youthreach were negotiated and agreed by all stakeholders.
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.
My primary concern is to ensure the best possible outcomes for participants on the Youthreach programme are realised and there is a continuity of supports available for learners.
