- Youth work and youth policy in the Republic of Ireland 1983-2008: "Still haven't found what we're looking for ...?" - Maurice Devlin
"In the summer of 1983 up-and-coming rock star Bono was one of 24 people appointed by the Irish Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald to a National Youth Policy Committee (NYPC) to be chaired by the High Court judge, former parliamentarian and son of a Taoiseach, Declan Costello. The NYPC was required to prepare within a year 'recommendations for a National Youth Policy which would be aimed at assisting all young people to become self-reliant, responsible and active participants in society'.
It was regarded as highly significant that the NYPC's remit extended beyond youth work and into a range of areas of policy and provision. The fact that NYPC was appointed directly by the Taoiseach (rather than a government minister, as was the case with other youth-related commissions and committees before and since), and was chaired by an eminent public figure meant much was expected from the committee and much would flow from its final report in terms of the government response and subsequent support for youth work, youth services and the development of youth policy.
This article explores, 25 years later, what progress has been made, and what remains to be done."
Maurice Devlin is with the Department of Applied Social Studies, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
For more information on or to subscribe to Youth & Policy, visit The National Youth Agency website at www.nya.org.uk, email sales@nya.org.uk or telephone: 0116 242 7427. Guidelines for contributors available on request.
