Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2006
132 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the future of a number of community based projects in Donegal, comprising many young people and adult volunteers, are at serious risk due to lack of mainstream funding; the timeframe for the roll-out of the Youth Act 2001 for Donegal and other rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21191/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Youth Affairs Section of my Department has received a number of applications in 2006 for youth projects in the Donegal region, via Donegal VEC, for funding under the Special Projects for Disadvantaged Youth scheme. My Department is at present giving consideration to these requests and to other applications made for youth work funding in 2006, having regard to the overall level of financial resources available for the youth work sector.
With regard to the Youth Work Act, 2001, this provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the Vocational Education Committees and national and regional youth work organisations.
A sub-committee of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, representative of both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as my Department, has been steadily progressing the groundwork, including the development of detailed guidelines and procedures, which are vital for the further rollout of the Act in a planned and structured manner. The work of this sub-committee is continuing.
An area which is currently receiving priority attention is the capacity development of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to carry out their responsibilities under the terms of the Act. I am pleased that progress has been made in this regard. A structure for the resourcing of VECs to carry out the functions set out for them under the Act has been agreed, in principle, between my Department and the Irish Vocational Education Association, and I propose to approve a number of additional Youth Officer posts to VECs in this regard. The additional resources being provided to the VEC sector in 2006 will allow for the progressive roll out of the Act at local level in all VEC areas.
