asked the Minister for Education if Ireland intends to participate in the proposed European Youth Forum and in the Committee for Youth Questions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Policy.
39.
No final decision has yet been taken by the Council of Ministers in relation to the Commission's recommendations for the setting up of a committee for youth questions and a European Youth Forum.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give me any idea as to when a decision might be taken on this and whether or not the Government have any views on the matter?
I understand that COREPER—the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EEC— agreed on 26th April to assign examination of the Commission's proposals for the setting up of a committee on youth questions and a European Youth Forum to the working party on general affairs. This working party is a permanent type of sub-committee of COREPER and I understand it will be studying the matter in the fairly near future. I cannot give a definite date as to when their considerations will be concluded.
40.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that in Dublin the development of Comhairle le Leas Óige has been halted due to the lack of a national youth policy, that in the past year a large number of full-time workers have resigned due to the lack of an adequate career structure and that if there were a proper youth structure the Comhairle could be very helpful in dealing with drug problems among the young; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am not aware that the development of Comhairle Le Leas Óige has been halted due to lack of national policy. Grants to An Chomhairle have, in fact, been increased. For the nine months ending 31st December, 1974, it received State aid at an equivalent of £150,000 per annum as against £130,000 for 1973-74. Grants for 1975 will show a further increase on this figure.
Since my reply to Deputy Lemass on 18th July, 1974, Question No. 85, my Department has authorised the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee to offer permanent pensionable posts in the service of the VEC, as officers for out-of-school activities, to seven youth officers who had been employed in a temporary capacity by Comhairle Le Leas Óige. An Chomhairle have expressed themselves as satisfied with this arrangement. Conditions of service for the permanent pensionable posts which have been submitted by the VEC are at present under consideration by the Department.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that even if the central committee have come to some sort of arrangement with him at local level, and, indeed, in my constituency, there is a lot of disquiet over the lack of a national youth policy which I understand was promised some time ago? Could the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication as to when there might even be a White Paper issued on this matter?
I cannot give a date in this matter. I can assure the Deputy that decisions are not being held up. I am taking decisions from time to time. One example of decisions being taken is the offer of permanent, pensionable posts to those people in Comhairle Le Leas Óige.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary say seven?
Yes.
Will one or more of these be available in an unattached way for dealing with social problems of youth in the central city area as had been the custom last year?
As I have said, the terms of employment of these officers are at present being considered. Whether these terms of employment will include unattached work in the centre of the city is not something on which I can give a definite answer now. I understand that Comhairle Le Leas Óige did a certain amount of work in this area and is now re-assessing its role in this field. If Comhairle Le Leas Óige wish to make representations in relation to that work to me, I will certainly consider them.
Have the seven people accepted?
I think they are prepared to accept but their precise terms of employment have not yet been presented to them.
41.
asked the Minister for Education his Department's policy regarding the training of voluntary youth leaders.
42.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that places made available to youth workers in the Twenty-six Counties for the youth community course at the Northern Ireland Polytechnic were lost due to the decision of his Department not to sanction any further scholarships until the national youth policy was decided upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
The annual grants paid by my Department to youth organisations normally include a provision towards the expenses of the organisations' training programmes for their voluntary leaders, and I understand that, in 1974, of the £119,100 allocated approximately £22,500 was spent by the voluntary youth organisations, including Macra na Tuaithe, in the provision of training courses. As announced by me on 3rd May, 1975, this year's allocation of grants of £218,350 to those organisations represents an increase of about 83 per cent on last year's grants, and I hope that this will enable the youth organisations to invest a larger share of their resources in the provision of courses for their adult volunteer youth leaders. Indeed, I may say that it is my belief that adult voluntary leaders must be the catalyst in youth work and that their training needs should get top priority. In addition to these general provisions, the uniformed organisations, scouts, girl guides, etc, have through the National Youth Council made a special case for a joint training scheme for leader trainers. This scheme will retain the valuable voluntary character of the organisations but give them professionally developed skills. A sum of £2,000 will be made available this year, subject to arrangements to be worked out later, towards the operation of this scheme.
As regards grants for the training of youth leaders at courses in the Northern Ireland Polytechnic, Jordanstown, the position is that two students were awarded grants to attend a two-year course at that centre on an experimental basis. The course being attended by these students will be completed in June next and a decision on the question of awarding further such grants will not be taken until an assessment is made after that date.
Are they the only two students who went for training to the polytechnic in Northern Ireland? Were there more than for the previous year?
I do not think there were any in the previous year. I think there is one attending this year.
43.
asked the Minister for Education if he has yet sanctioned the appointment of full-time youth workers in Limerick, Kilkenny and Waterford; and, if not, why.
I have not sanctioned the appointment of full-time youth workers by the vocational education committees in these areas. The general question of the need for full-time youth workers is being examined. It is considered that the priority in youth service development is more resources and skills to support and expand the number and work of adult volunteer youth workers and not just to appoint full-time youth workers as an end in itself.
In the meantime, substantial financial aid amounting to £156,150 is being provided for youth services under existing grant schemes to 20 different youth organisations from which the areas mentioned by the Deputy in common with other areas throughout the country can benefit. A special payment of £16,000 has been sanctioned, in addition to its normal grant of £24,000, for the National Federation of Youth Clubs this year for the purposes of assisting the regional and local youth councils to develop club activities, provide equipment, etc. Grants are paid by Limerick City and Limerick County Vocational Education Committees to the Limerick Diocesan Youth Council, towards the cost of providing youth leaders. My Department has sanctioned, on an experimental basis, the creation of a post under County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee for a teacher who would have responsibility for the development and co-ordination of adult education activities in the committee's area.