Let’s get serious about provision of resources for young people
This problem is symptomatic of a much broader malaise in how we treat young people and the prioritisation given to their needs.
Surely the real question is why the pub is the only place that many young people have in both urban and rural areas for entertainment and a social life.
It is truly an indictment of our approach to youth work that they must go through such a rigmarole to organise a social night out. Where are the café-style facilities or modern youth centres where young people can meet? Those few local youth services that organise such facilities meet with constant problems over funding, premises and insurance.
Meanwhile, the much-heralded National Youth Work Development Plan remains on the shelf in the Department of Education and Science with no movement on the most basic elements of it and no resources committed. In particular, the capital programme envisaged in the plan would make a contribution to addressing the severe lack of facilities for young people if the Government saw fit to release the funding required.
Those who work with young people can provide many solutions to our alcohol-centred approach to life. Where quality sports and leisure facilities along with night-time activities are provided, young people respond by availing of them in large numbers. It would be regrettable if we choose to organise social activity for under-18s in so-called 'dry pubs' thus forming a habit of attendance. This could lead to the bar shutters being raised as soon as these young people reach 18 years of age.
It is the responsibility of the Government to assist in the provision of such facilities.
Given the existence of an agreed plan to provide improved facilities for young people, how much longer must we wait for progress in this area?
Diarmuid Kearney
Chief Executive
National Youth Federation
20 Dominick Street Lower
Dublin 1
