Youth Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2011

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Ceisteanna (11)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

56 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has entered into dialogue with youth organisations with a view to identifying the extent to which provision can be made for a properly integrated youth service throughout the country which can in particular put in place positive options by way of youth services in such a way as to compete with negative influence leading to lack of self-esteem or even crime; if any studies have been done to ascertain the degree to which the provision of sophisticated and adequate youth services can result in a positive economic and social benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26015/11]

Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

My Department is involved in ongoing and productive dialogue with the youth sector through the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, NYWAC. This committee comprises a chairperson and 32 members drawn equally from the voluntary and statutory sectors involved in the administration and provision of youth work programmes and services. Thirteen nominees from the National Youth Council of Ireland, NYCI, and four from the Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, are represented on the committee.

The committee's main role is to advise me on matters relating to the development and coordination of youth work policies, programmes and services. The committee meets on average every two months and provides a forum through which specific issues can be addressed and progressed. I met recently with this advisory committee and with representatives of a wide range of youth organisations, including Foróige, Youth Work Ireland, Irish Girl Guides, Catholic Youth Care and Ferns Diocesan Youth Service.

One of my key aims for youth policy development will be to ensure optimum use of all the financial and human resources available. It is striking how many people work as volunteers in the youthwork sector; there are around 9,000 professionals and 60,000 volunteers. The development of my Department's policy on young people will focus specifically on ensuring greater coherence, co-ordination and impact in youth policy and provision to ensure quality outcomes for all.

The Department is in the process of commissioning a review of international best practice in the area of youth development and youth support. The findings from this work will inform my Department's policy objectives and future funding provision with the aim of ensuring that young people engaging in youth services derive maximum benefit.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. Does she agree that in these straitened times, it is particularly important to focus on the support services for young people? Does she also agree that it is a good time, financial difficulties notwithstanding, to ensure the advisory bodies and youth support services she communicates with regularly are updated to enable the Minister and the Government to make value judgments on the issues facing young people? This is not an attempt to pretend these are the first youths to appear on the face of the earth but an effort to respond to the challenges that are emerging, particularly the negative challenges.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

I take the Deputy's point. We are all aware of the threats posed to young people by alcohol, drugs and unhealthy lifestyles. We must get to grips with the challenges posed by consumerism, the media and new technologies. There is a number of things I am doing on the development of youth work and I am going to ensure we have a national youth development policy because we have no comprehensive youthwork policy in place at the moment. I am also looking at the 2001 youthwork legislation. Deputies familiar with this area are aware that many of the provisions of that legislation have not yet been implemented. Youthwork funding streams have not changed since the 1980s and we must examine the most effective use of the funding being given to youth bodies. In many areas there is duplication and there is clearly work to be done to streamline the money and projects being done with young people. It is now more important than ever that organisations are not duplicating work, with multiple funding going to similar projects. This area needs to be rationalised and we must examine those funding streams.

Deputy David Stanton

I welcome the Minister's remarks about reviewing the youthwork sector and updating the youthwork legislation. Will the Minister join me in calling on local authorities, State agencies and other bodies to make available properties and facilities for youth clubs, youth organisations and sporting organisations? Facilities are a huge issue.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I support the thrust of Deputy Durkan's question and underline the import of his proposal. We must engage and have more dialogue with those at the coalface of support provision for young people, particularly those at risk. It must be done on the basis of recognising that a little can go very far. It was well exemplified last evening on the programme "Secret Millionaire" on the visit to Muirhevnamore in Dundalk, my neighbouring constituency. That is an example of how small sums of money can make a tremendous difference and at the end of the day, save the Exchequer vast sums of money by avoiding anti-social behaviour and the prospect of a lifetime of crime and imprisonment for many young people that we wish to avoid.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I ask the Minister to review the frequency of the meetings with the youth advisory groups on a bi-monthly basis. It might be better to increase the number of those meetings in the present climate.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

I can only agree with Deputy Stanton, it is a point well made. Access to facilities and resources is a huge issue. We have seen buildings that could be used by local youth clubs and organisations that are empty in the evenings, the very time when they could be available to such organisations. I will pursue that with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to see if we could make progress on the issue.

I will take Deputy Durkan's point on further contact with the youth organisations but I assure him there is ongoing contact with all of the organisations. There is a budget for the youth sector in 2011 of €60 million and we must ensure it is spent effectively to give us the best youth services we can get at this time. I agree with the point made by Deputies that this is a particularly stressful time for many young people and youth organisations have an important role to play in getting services to these young people.