392 Ms O’Donnell asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the allocation of the additional €5.5 million announced for youth development in the 2005 budget estimates; the progress which has been made on implementation of the national youth work development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34784/05]

The additional allocation made available for youth work purposes in 2005 is catering for a number of developments under the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan and for enhancements to existing youth work programmes and services, and will be fully expended by year end.

Under the national youth work development plan, to date in 2005 additional funding has been provided in the following areas: establishment of ten new special projects for disadvantaged youth, upgrade of 20 single worker special projects to two worker projects, review of youth work funding; review of youth information provision, continued support of the child protection training programme, establishment of a development fund for youth work organisations and establishment of a North-South youth work training endorsement panel.

Funding will be allocated in the near future for the establishment of a national youth work development unit and for the capacity development of vocational education committees to carry out their responsibilities under the Youth Work Act 2001 as well as other youth work activities.