I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the vital work that Youth Work Ireland is carrying out in communities across the south east. This is also a time to speak on the pressing challenges facing youth workers. Youth Work Ireland represents 20 youth services across the State. They are our front-line services. They are in our communities working as mentors and positive role models in the lives of children and teenagers who are missing those crucial factors. They tackle the root cause of antisocial behaviour rather than simply punishing it. This is the principle of diversion in action, that is, giving a young person a second chance rather than a criminal record. Despite this vital work, these groups are left scrambling for funding from left, right and centre, year after year. How can any group effectively plan for long-term development when working off 12-month funding cycles? The Government needs to stop viewing youth service as a cost or expenditure. It must view it for what it really is; an investment. It is an investment with significant short-term supports but enormous long-term returns. It builds social cohesion, reduces antisocial behaviour, guides young people towards contributing positively to the community and reduces the burden on An Garda Síochána and the fire services. I will use Ferrybank, not far from my home, as an example. Last summer, the fire service was called out almost daily to deal with antisocial behaviour activities. I do not need to remind the Minister about how stretched our front-line services are. Whatever we can do to ease that pressure must be explored. Proper funding to deal with rising costs and a statutory pay scale for all State-funded youth workers are two measures that would make a meaningful impact. Has the Minister’s Department looked at these proposals? Is she willing to implement them?

Sentiment score: 0.03

There is a double standard in the area of youth work that cannot be ignored. In Dublin, staff are on a far better wage agreement. Youth workers outside Dublin are being left behind despite doing the same job, often in more isolated areas and for significantly less pay. Many are trained up by the local services only to leave for other agencies because of better pay standards. How can the Minister stand over this double standard and treatment? If someone is doing the work, they should be treated and paid equally, regardless of where they are based. Instead, many outside of Dublin receive increments only once every three years if they are lucky. Will the Minister commit to ending this geographic double standard?

Sentiment score: 0.20