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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 2

Ceisteanna – Questions (Resumed). Priority Questions. - Youth Services.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

93 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure the allocation of an additional ?5 million for youth work under his Department's budget to address the serious shortfall in the sector and to allow for the implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26625/03]

Funding for the youth affairs section of my Department for 2003 is €27.123 million, which represents a 5.5% increase over 2002. Provision for the youth work sector increased by almost 60% from 1997 to 2003 demonstrating 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. The cumulative increase since 1998 has been very significant and well ahead of inflation.

I am conscious of the issues and concerns raised by people involved in the youth work sector regarding future funding for ongoing youth work programmes. Concerns have also been raised about services and the 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. It is the nature of the Youth Work Act 2001 that it must be implemented incrementally. The national youth work development plan is intended to cover a five-year period. It was published earlier this year and its implementation will be phased as financial resources permit.

I thank the Minister. The Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy de Valera, has been ill and I take this opportunity to wish her well. I offer my support for her efforts to secure the €5 million which has been estimated to be needed next year to implement the Youth Work Act and the national youth work development plan.

Does the Minister agree that we cannot afford to fail to implement these measures given the alternative? Youth work directs young people to positive rather than negative activities. The experience in my constituency, of which the Minister will be well aware, has been that youth work represents great value for money. There are 40,000 volunteers involved in the youth work sector.

In real terms, the increase the Minister mentioned is a 4% decrease when inflation is taken into account. Does the Minister agree that the implementation of the Act has meant youth organisations had to draw money from other established funding to meet their obligations under the Act and the plan? I urge the Minister to provide the relatively small amount of money which is needed in the Estimates. I accept that he will not tell us the sum he is providing.

The Deputy is correct. I will not tell her what is being provided. I accept Deputy O'Sullivan's comments on the importance of youth work and of trying to maintain and increase as much as possible the level of support we have provided over the last couple of years. Circumstances in the Deputy's constituency in particular demonstrate what can happen where there is a lack of infrastructure and support for young people. The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, and I are conscious of that. I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks about the Minister of State. No more than any other sector of the Education and Science budget, the youth budget will have to compete with a list of other priorities in the area. However, we will try to ensure that the 60% increase in funding since 1997 is maintained in this year's Estimates.

Is the Minister aware that the National Youth Council, which is the umbrella body for the various youth organisations, has predicted cuts to essential programmes involving 200,000 young people if extra funding is not forthcoming? In March, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science received a presentation in regard to this issue, which emphasised that youth organisations are subject to requirements under the very good Youth Act which cost money. This means there are real implications for ongoing work if funding is cut.

Is the Minister further aware that it costs €94,000 per annum to keep someone in prison and does he agree that if we spend money on youth work, we have a good chance of keeping a substantial number of people out of prison because they will be involved in youth activities? I urge the Minister to come up with the money in this regard.

I have seen the calculations of the National Youth Council in regard to the costs and why it needs an extra €5 million in this year's Estimates. However, I have received submissions from every other group which receives money from the Department, as well as increased calls for more teachers and more schools to be built and so on. Therefore, this request must take its place alongside the others. If I could get extra money from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's prison budget – which I might when two of them are closed – I would be delighted to use the money for youth work.

We got money from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

We will try to ensure that we get the maximum available increase for youth work.

Question No. 94 answered with Question No. 92.

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