The Youthreach Employee Wellbeing Report 2022: A review of employees experience of working in the Youthreach Sector was published by Maynooth University in January 2023. The relevant officials in my Department are aware of the findings of this report.
This report was based on a survey of 325 staff, or some 33% of the sector. It reported challenges facing frontline Youthreach sector staff and workplace stress but also found higher levels of wellbeing by comparison to teaching staff at other levels of education. The report highlighted the dedication and commitment of Youthreach staff to their student cohort.
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.
I understand that Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) issued a follow-up sectoral response survey to the 16 ETBs. ETBI will consider the individual ETB responses and prepare a report for SOLAS and my Department on the issues raised and measures taken in relation to issues raised.
