6 Country Reports on Youth Work - Jugendpolitik in Europa

particularly strong in Greece has to be put in another perspective for the sector of youth
work. Most youth workers are professionals with a higher education. The professionalisation
rate in the field of educational or social services is higher than in other areas of youth work.
10.5 Ireland
Data base:
Five municipalities of the East Cork area were selected to report about the socioeconomic
scope of youth work at local level in Ireland:
� Midleton;
� Youghal,
� Cobh,
� Glanmire and
� Carrigtwohill.
East Cork epitomises Ireland’s transition in microcosmic form. It is an area undergoing rapid
transformation, with a population growth of 13.7% between 2002 and 2006. East Cork is at
an intermediate phase in the process of its incorporation into the metropolitan life of Cork
City – reflecting Ireland’s sprawling city phenomenon, which is evidenced by the ambiguous
borders between town and country. East Cork is ‘terrain vague’ and for its growing youth
population it is often a ‘non-place’ or a series of ‘non-places’ in the form of satellite towns that
somehow seem decentred from the urban world but no longer part of rural life. It is
symptomatic of the loss of the great urban-planning ideals of urban design and rural
sustainability. Social disadvantage is a significant issue.
The local structure of youth work could only be studied from a qualitative point of view
because of the absence of an institutionalised youth work setting. There is an embryonic
youth service in a state of emergence, but it is too early to quantify its achievements. The
volunteer base of the structure and the lack of professional input, relatively speaking, limits
records. However schematic data is provided in a table below.
Findings:
According to a report commissioned by East Cork Area Development (2007) and coauthored
by Mary McGrath and Deborah Lynch, which had an overall response rate of 702
young persons aged 13-15 years from the five municipalities (Midleton, Youghal, Cobh,
Glanmire and Carrigtwohill) and twelve schools, the local situation reflects the national
picture of inadequate youth work services. McGrath and Lynch (2007: 21) asked young
people in their survey where they went if they went out. Responses showed that 82.2%
spend their leisure time ‘hanging-around’ [with friends] when they go out (see Table 36). This
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