YOUR report on plans to develop ‘hanging out’ centres for young people by Junior Minister for Children Brian Lenihan raises several questions for policymakers and youth organisations (Irish Examiner, December 6).

The Leaving Certificate puts too much pressure on young people and doesn’t prepare them for life in the real world, it was claimed today.

The proposal to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) appears to have little support among a number of Government backbenchers.

Young people are entitled to access inspectors’ reports on schools, the National Youth Federation said today.

THE advent of a website rating teachers’ performances in the classroom is problematic in terms of unaccountable comments and the absence of transparency. Few could endorse such a measure.

Junior Minister Brian Lenihan has announced plans to double staff numbers at the Garda Central Vetting Unit in the coming months.

BACKGROUND checks will be carried out on most people who work with children, the Government is expected to announce today.

The National Youth Federation has called on the Government to introduce a Garda vetting system for all people working with children.

THE sense of confusion that has surrounded the issue of young people using licensed premises for non-alcoholic events demonstrates the mixed messages emerging from Government in relation to young people and alcohol.

A NATIONWIDE service for the children of separated parents should be available by the end of the year.

PROPOSALS contained in the Intoxicating Liquor Bill are nonsensical and legally impossible to enforce, a leading criminal law expert has said.

Government proposals to introduce ID cards for people under 23 are coming under fire from Ireland's biggest youth organisation.

The National Youth Federation has claimed that compulsory ID cards will not solve Ireland's under-age drinking problem.

The National Youth Federation is to launch two booklets today to increase suicide awareness among young workers.

IRISH children are vulnerable to a Soham-style tragedy because vetting procedures in our schools and sporting groups are grossly inadequate, the ISPCC warned last night.

The Government has been condemned for its failure to deliver a national policy for protection to young people and youth organisations.

The National Youth Federation is making an appeal to Justice Minister John O'Donoghue to grant them procedures for garda clearance of their volunteers.

The number of people becoming volunteer workers has seriously declined, according to the National Youth Federation.