Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
394. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Quality Standards Framework for the youth sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25973/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 €49.9m 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.
Ensuring quality service delivery is an ongoing priority. My Department is progressing and supporting the implementation of quality standards initiatives in the youth area. This will help ensure an improvement in good practice, that these services and projects are outcomes focussed and that the young people involved are deriving the maximum benefit from being involved. The National Quality Standards Framework for youth work applies to all staff-led youth work organisations, services, projects and programmes funded by the Department. All youth work services and youth organisations funded by the Department are now applying these standards.
A set of best practice standards for volunteer led youth clubs and groups, such as Scouting Ireland and the Irish Girl Guides and others was introduced by my Department in 2013. The aim of these standards is to support 1,600 clubs with some 10,000 members in creating and providing quality programmes and activities for young people in safe and supportive environments. The implementation of quality standards and the best practice guidelines is being supported by a Quality Standards Training and Resource Development Group, which involves experienced youth workers and other experts. Its task is to develop the resource materials and training to support the voluntary providers of youth services throughout the country. The introduction of the quality standards has been welcomed by the national youth organisations and local services. My Department has plans to further develop the quality standards and the supports for the voluntary youth services to implement them in the context of the new National Youth Strategy, which will be available shortly.
