Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Youth Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004

Tuesday, 17 February 2004

Ceisteanna (217, 218, 219)

David Stanton

Ceist:

301 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a request to support the post of a national co-ordinator for the YMCA; if his Department had made such support available in the past; if so, if he will give details with regard to cost and length of such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4808/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The youth affairs section of my Department funds the YMCA through its youth service grant scheme. The scheme provides support on an annual basis to national and major regional voluntary youth work organisations. Funding amounting to €119,672 was allocated to the YMCA in 2003. Six staff positions are supported by 80% of this aid, including a part-time national STEP co-ordinator. The STEP, support training and enterprise programme, which is a pre-vocational training programme for 18 to 25 year olds who are educationally disadvantaged, commenced in 1989 and it has since been combined with the organisation's early school leavers' programme. The precise details requested in regard to cost and time will be collated and sent to the Deputy as soon as possible. No request has been received to date by the youth affairs section of my Department from the organisation for additional posts.

David Stanton

Ceist:

302 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science his programme and that of his Ministers of State regarding youth work and youth affairs with reference to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4814/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I am availing myself of the Irish EU Presidency to further develop youth policy at home and to influence youth policy in Europe. Progressing the European Commission's White Paper, A New Impetus for European Youth, is a priority for the youth agenda during the Irish Presidency. I plan to hold a youth conference at ministerial level in County Clare from 4 to 6 March next and, while its overall theme reflects the youth Presidency priority of progressing the White Paper, it will focus particularly on two issues. These are young people and politics — a key dimension of youth participation — and the development of youth policy at EU level. Approximately 170 delegates, including young people, are expected to attend this conference from both member states and acceding countries.

At the January meeting of the European Union's youth working party, the Irish Presidency introduced a draft resolution on social inclusion with specific regard to young people, which will highlight the issues involved for these young people in many different areas of activity and concern. I intend to place this on the agenda of the EU Council of Education and Youth Ministers in May 2004. A declaration on racism, violence and intolerance in relation to young people is also proposed for discussion at these meetings.

Léargas — the Exchange Bureau is organising a meeting of the national agencies for the youth programme in Dublin in May 2004. The theme of this conference will be the development of youth policies in accordance with the EU White Paper on youth. The National Youth Council of Ireland will also be involved in a meeting of the European youth forum in Dublin in May next.

Also during the Presidency, a meeting of directors general of youth from all the EU member states will take place in Dublin in June, 2004 and discussion will focus on the possible contents of a new youth programme and further advancement of the principles contained in the EU White Paper on youth. An informal meeting of the youth working party will also take place in Dublin in June 2004.

David Stanton

Ceist:

303 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made regarding the appointment of an assessor of youth work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Section 16 of the Youth Work Act 2001 provides for the appointment of an assessor of youth work and this has been identified as a priority action by my Department. A sub-committee of the national youth work advisory committee, which was appointed under sections 17 and 18 of the Act to advise on youth work and youth work policy, has drawn up a job description for the assessor of youth work outlining the requirements in accordance with the provisions of the Youth Work Act 2001. This job description is being examined by my Department and it is expected that the advertising and recruitment process will commence shortly.

Barr
Roinn