Youth Work Act, 1997

Functions of Minister.

3.—(1) The Minister, in so far as it is practicable, shall—

(a) ensure the development and co-ordination of policies relating to youth work programmes and youth work services,

(b) co-ordinate youth work programmes and youth work services with education programmes and other programmes that provide services for young persons,

(c) provide, from within the financial resources available to the Minister, moneys in each financial year to assist in the provision of youth work programmes and youth work services,

(d) conduct research or cause research to be conducted in respect of youth work, including youth work programmes and youth work services in one or more education regions,

(e) monitor, at least once in each financial year, a youth work programme or a youth work service that is in receipt of moneys under this Act, including a youth work programme or a youth work service provided by a voluntary youth work organisation that is in receipt of moneys under section 4 (1)(a),

(f) carry out an assessment, at least once in every 3 years, on a youth work programme or a youth work service provided by an organisation specified in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of section 19 and is in receipt of moneys under that section,

(g) carry out an assessment, at least once in every 3 years, on a youth work programme or a youth work service that is in receipt of moneys under section 4 (1)(a),

(h) carry out an assessment, at least once in every 3 years, on a youth work programme or a youth work service that is provided in accordance with section 4 (2), and

(i) establish a National Youth Work Advisory Committee.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of subsection (1), the Minister, in performing such functions, shall have regard to—

(a) the treatment of male and female young persons in relation to access to youth work, and

(b) the number of male and female young persons who are likely to participate in such youth work programmes and youth work services.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) of subsection (1), the Minister shall endeavour to ensure that particular regard is had to the youth work requirements of persons who are aged between 10 and 21 years and are socially or economically disadvantaged.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (e), (f), (g) and (h) of subsection (1), in such monitoring and assessment of a youth work programme or a youth work service, the Minister shall have regard to an evaluation of the expenditure incurred in the provision of such youth work programme or youth work service.

(5) The Minister may, following an assessment under paragraph (f) of subsection (1), make recommendations to the organisation providing the youth work programme or youth work service so assessed in relation to the manner in which such youth work programme or youth work service is provided and that organisation shall comply with such recommendations.

(6) The Minister may, following an assessment under paragraph (g) of subsection (1), make recommendations to the organisation providing the youth work programme or the youth work service so assessed in relation to the manner in which such youth work programme or youth work service is provided and that organisation shall comply with such recommendations.

(7) The Minister may, following an assessment under paragraph (h) of subsection (1), make recommendations to the education board concerned in relation to the manner in which such youth work programme or youth work service is provided and the education board concerned shall comply with such recommendations.