Warning over lack of youth work funds

THE justice system will bear the burden if the Government fails to invest properly in services for young people, a youth leader warned yesterday.

The claim was made by Kevin Hickey, president of the National Youth Council of Ireland, after the launch of the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007 yesterday.

The publication of the plan by Youth Affairs Minister Síle de Valera comes almost two years after the passing of a Youth Work Act.

The act provided for grants to help co-ordinate youth services and organisations on a local basis.

But Mr Hickey said sufficient funding has not been made available to implement the legislation, leaving many youth clubs and other services short of staff.

“We need more youth clubs and facilities to provide a counter-balance to the drink culture that’s sucking young people in. Over time, it would change the situation and provide an alternative for many youths,” he said.

“But that’s not going to happen if services are shrinking, which will only lead to social workers, gardaí, prison officers and probation officers having to clean up the difficulties,” Mr Hickey said.

Fine Gael deputy education spokesperson David Stanton described the development plan as a publicity stunt, saying this year’s youth work funding is less than last year’s after inflation.

“Young people are crying out for places to go, so without funding to back up this plan, it’s useless. Youth organisations are frustrated and staff are demotivated,” he said.

He said there were hardly any community facilities are being developed with all the housing estates being built around the country, meaning young people’s skills and talents can not be developed.

Ms de Valera said an assessor of youth work will be appointed this year to assess services provided by voluntary organisations or funded by Vocational Education Committees, and a child protection training programme will also be implemented this year.

However, she said the implementation of further elements of the plan will be progressed on a priority basis, depending on available resources.

The main goals of the plan are to facilitate full participation in youth work, to improve its contribution to social inclusion and to improve professional standards in the sector.