Youth work programmes throughout the State are to be promoted by statutory committees set up by the Government through local vocational education committees.
The Youth Work Bill 2000, published yesterday, will also provide for a National Youth Work Advisory Committee to report to the Minister of State for Education, Mr Willie O'Dea, on youth work programmes and services.
Mr O'Dea said the Bill would formalise procedures and arrangements to enhance youth work already being carried out by organisations and agencies.
"Investment in youth work is vital if we hope to deal in a proactive rather than a reactive manner to the many problems in our society. Youth work can help to reduce problems such as crime and drug abuse," Mr O'Dea said.
Under the Bill, VECs will have to prepare three-year costed youth development plans, to be reviewed annually.
An assessor of youth work will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of existing youth work programmes.
Each VEC will be empowered to appoint youth work committees. The VECs will have to submit youth work budgets to the Minister for approval, detailing their programmes and services.
The Minister will be empowered to make annual grants available to VECs, approved national voluntary youth work organisations and designated local voluntary youth work organisations.
The Minister will publish an annual list of all approved voluntary youth work organisations.