Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
353. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how the Youthreach programme functions above the 166 days for students, given the reduction in staff who are employed as pro-rata teachers/resource persons; the percentage breakdown, by centre to indicate the way staffing levels change during this time (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18532/24]
View answerThe Youthreach programme is a national full-time programme for unemployed early school leavers, generally between 16 and 20 years of age, and is delivered in two settings, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres. The Youthreach year is 225 days, with learners being required to attend for 208 days. Individual learner plans are developed for each Youthreach learner. The programme includes general education, vocational training and work experience as well as a variety of complementary experiences that build confidence and broaden horizons.
Within the ETBs, the Youthreach programme is staffed by Co-ordinators, Resource Persons and teachers with nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment. They have specific, clearly defined job descriptions. which were designed very much with the programmes structure in mind. Template contracts of employment for Youthreach were negotiated and agreed by all stakeholders. The programme is staffed by Managers, Instructors and administrative staff in the CTCs grant funded by the ETBs.
While the information requested on individual Centre staffing levels is not readily available, the overall numbers reported in the Youthreach Grades in the ETB Staffing Returns for Q4 2023 are as follows:
|
Grade |
Head Count |
WTEs |
|
YR Coordinator |
113 |
112 |
|
YR Resource Person |
536 |
467 |
|
YR Teacher |
339 |
249 |
|
Total |
988 |
827 |
Details of the staffing in the CTC Youthreach Centres is not routinely collected and the latest available data relate to 2022 when there were 297 staff, including 31 Managers, 224 Instructors and 42 administrative staff employed across the 31 CTCs.
The precise configuration of the programme in each location is decided locally having regard to the individual learner and community needs and potential. In a needs-based service it is the learners’ needs that must define the curriculum rather than the competencies and preferences of providers. All full-time Co-ordinator and Resource staff are expected to be present on the days that learners are in attendance.
All centres are required to have a programme plan for work experience and while there is no set proportion of the programme that must be dedicated to work experience, it is recommended that no more than six weeks per annum per learner is spent on work experience.
