To ask the Minister of Education to detail the steps he is taking to ensure that the Education Authority provide clarity in the decision-making process for funding arrangements and allocations for the community and voluntary youth work sector.

The department’s youth work policy (Priorities for Youth) establishes the framework within which the EA delivers its operational remit, including funding decisions. Funding opportunities, open to voluntary youth centres, have been developed based on the Local and Regional Assessment of Need process and are advertised on a dedicated EA Youth Service (EAYS) Funding Website.

The policy established a Regional Advisory Group to provide advice to EA on the RYDP through stakeholder engagement.

A similar process operates at a local area level where Local Advisory Groups (LAGs) provide advice to support the development and implementation of local youth service provisions via Area Youth Development Plans. These forums provide an opportunity for the EA to provide clarity on their decision-making process.

The Director of Qualifications, 14-19 Strategy and Youth Work Policy is a member of the EA Funding Project Board which has confirmed that a model of stakeholder engagement is in place to identify the issues, develop solutions and communicate the outcomes of engagement, which importantly includes an explanation of the rationale for decisions.

Officials are working with the EA and the community and voluntary sector to ensure that the structures are working as intended and to enhance communications about funding arrangements and allocations to ensure transparency.