Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Youth Services.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

307 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by the National Youth Council of Ireland in respect of the need for an additional ?5 million for 2004 to restore youth work funding to 2002 levels in real terms and also to implement the appropriate aspects of the national youth work development plan and the Youth Work Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26522/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

I am aware of the National Youth Council of Ireland's campaign to have an additional €5 million allocated to the youth work sector in 2004. The funding for the youth affairs section of my Department for 2003 is €27.123 million which is a 5.5% increase over 2002. Provision for the youth sector increased by almost 60% from 1997 to 2003 which demonstrates the Government's commitment to supporting the work of the youth sector. I do not, therefore, accept that there is a serious financial shortfall in the sector as the cumulative increase since 1997 has been very significant and well ahead of inflation over that period of time.

I am conscious of the issues and concerns being raised by the youth work sector regarding future funding for ongoing youth work programmes and services and further implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007. The question of additional funding for the youth sector will be dealt with in the 2004 Estimates process. Of its nature, the Youth Work Act 2001 has to be implemented on an incremental basis. The national youth work development plan is intended to cover a five-year period and was published earlier this year on the basis of its phased implementation as financial resources permit.