asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to publish the Government's comprehensive youth pollicy before 1st June, 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Policy.
15.
A comprehensive policy for youth and sport was published on 14th May, 1977.
I am glad the Parliamentary Secretary noted my question which was put down a fortnight ago and three days later the policy document was released. I hope it is not another gimmick——
Has the Deputy a question to put?
I want to say this——
A question, Deputy.
I have already welcomed the policy document but I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary why sufficient emphasis was not placed on the employment of full-time professional youth leaders to train voluntary youth leaders? Why was emphasis not placed on the importance of having premises available as was pointed out at the time? Is he aware that Macra na Tuaithe in Cork city are anxious to employ an executive to promote their work? Why was money not made available in the policy document?
I think sufficient resources are being made available for the employment of full-time youth leaders given the general amount of money available. The whole idea of employing full-time youth leaders, as outlined in the policy is that they should act as a support to the adult voluntary worker and should not take over responsibility from him. As regards full-time youth workers, the Deputy will be aware that one of the major proposals in the document is the introduction of an in-service training scheme specifically for full-time youth workers. As regards the provision of buildings and so on, one of the powers given to vocational education committees under the terms of the proposal is that of providing assistance towards rental costs of a building which might be used by youth organisations and also towards the equipment of such buildings. This Government have given very dramatic increases, far in excess of increases in the cost of living and well in excess of increases given to some other youth organisations, to Macra na Tuaithe. We continue to take an interest in their work which is undoubtedly very valuable and discussions continue to take place between Macra na Tuaithe and the Government to see how best their programme can be advanced.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary taking into consideration the impact of inflation on the money he talks about as made available? Is he aware that youth work is only effective where there are premises available for drama, physical education and so on? We are talking here——
We must proceed by way of question and answer, brief question and brief answer.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is an urgent need to make premises available to the various youth organisations?
The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes"; the answer to the second part is "Not always" and to the third part: "Yes, the Government are taking action in this direction in so far as is possible."
It is not mentioned in the document.
The Deputy should read it again because it is mentioned.
I have read it and it is not mentioned.
It is mentioned in extenso.
It is not.
I am calling Deputy O'Kennedy.
I take it that in the comprehensive policy for youth and sport there is provision for the establishment of what is called a sports council. Would the Parliamentary Secretary acknowledge that the council which I established when we were in Government and which was functioning was disbanded by him three or four years ago? That being so, does he not acknowledge that coming along now to present to the young people in sports organisations the notion that he is establishing what was established four years ago and which, in fact, he disbanded, is a misrepresentation?
There is provision in the policy for a sports council and the council which is being established, as is clearly set out in the document, is very different and much more effective than the one which the Deputy and I both chaired at different times. The new sports council will have its own secretariat, will be independent in its function, will have its own chairman, not a political chairman and will have a clearly defined task which the other council did not, I think have. The new council will also have its own budget and will have representatives not only of the Department of Education but of all the Departments of State concerned with sporting affairs so that Government policy within the new council can be co-ordinated in a way that was impossible within the old council.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the sports council which he disbanded was only in its early days——
This is becoming argumentative.
——and was, in fact, moving towards the co-ordination to which he has referred, was representative and was independent in the discharge of its functions to advise the Parliamentary Secretary? Does he not acknowledge that by disbanding that council four years ago he is now making politics of something that should not be so used?
How could you argue that the council was independent when its chairman was the politician in power? Secondly, there was no means by which the work of other Departments could be co-ordinated because these other Departments were not members of the council. The new council will contain members of the other Departments with the Government's full agreement.
The Parliamentary Secretary said something——
Sorry. Question No. 16—Deputy Gallagher.
I wanted to put on record that the council was autonomous and that the state bodies were represented on it.
Order.