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Youth Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Ceisteanna (436, 438)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with the various youth support organisations, with a view to ensuring the provision of adequate support or advisory facilities to children or young adults who may be in a vulnerable situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14901/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

438. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which he and his Department have received representations from various youth organisations seeking financial or other support; the degree to which he continues to be in a position to respond to such requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14903/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 438 together.

My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2015, funding of €49.93m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. There has been no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which was a key priority for youth organisations.

My Department has notified youth organisations and projects of their 2015 allocations in respect of their youth services. As in recent years, national organisations along with the grant administering agencies that administer youth funding, on behalf of my Department, were invited where it was appropriate, to submit proposals to my Department for the reconfiguration of the funding allocations notified to them across projects and funding schemes to better meet local needs. A small number of requests for reconfiguration have been received by my Department in 2015.

My Department maintains close contact with the youth services throughout the country, and works closely with Education and Training boards in this regard. Youth Officers of the Education and Training Boards engage with local services, on behalf of my Department. They provide support and advice in matters to do with the application and reporting processes for funding and the implementation of quality standards in services for young people.

I and my Department regularly receive representations from youth services on a range of issues, including financial provision. I, and officials of my Department have met, and continue to meet regularly, with youth organisations and groups. In January and February, officials of my Department met with the representatives of some 30 national and major regional youth organisations to discuss recent and upcoming developments and to hear their plans for the services in 2015. My aim is to see how we can work together to bring about the best possible outcomes for young people, having regard to resources available to us and to ensure that the programmes and services being provided are relevant and responsive to young people’s needs.

Ongoing engagement and dialogue with the voluntary youth sector organisations and with young people themselves are priorities in the formulation of policies and provision of services to support young people’s development and learning.

My Department is developing a new National Youth Strategy. Based on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures - the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020, it will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10 to 24. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore in most need of support.

The National Youth Strategy is being developed in close consultation with statutory youth interests and the voluntary youth organisations and services that work with young people. A National Youth Strategy Task Group, convened by my Department, is overseeing its development. This Task Group comprises representatives of Government Departments, relevant agencies, business, academia and youth interests. A comprehensive consultation with youth stakeholders and young people on the priorities for the youth strategy has recently concluded. My Department is working to finalise the new National Youth Strategy by early Summer.

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