100 extra young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and disability sector to gain experience onboard tall ships and other vessels
Today, Minister with responsibility for Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe T.D, made a funding announcement in relation to Sail Training Ireland (STIRL). Mr Kehoe, accompanied by Minister with responsibility for Disabilities Finian McGrath, announced the provision of a grant of €85,000 in 2019 and again in 2020 which will go towards youth development. The funding, approved by Cabinet in December, will benefit young people from disadvantaged areas and the disability sector. Sail Training Ireland is a registered charity (CHY 20067) based in Dublin and was established in 2011 by three people previously involved with the Asgard.
The objective of Sail training is youth development rather than just teaching people to sail. This is an important distinction. In 2018, Sail Training Ireland placed 341 young people on sail training vessels, over 90% of whom were from disadvantaged backgrounds. Sail Training Ireland does not own or operate a vessel. Instead it charters vessels as required. This is a different model to the state’s previous sail training vessel – the Asgard which sank off the coast of France in 2008.
Trainees are selected by nominating organisations, examples of which are the HSE, Garda Diversion Projects, Tulsa, Irish Wheelchair Association and the Irish Refugee Council to name a few. A total of 37 nominating organisations provided trainees for placement in 2018. Skills such as communication, leadership, confidence and teamwork are all developed when on board a sail training vessel.
Sail Training Ireland also facilitates young people with a disability to avail of the sail training experience. Indeed in 2018, over 25% of those placed on voyages were young people with a disability. In terms of gender balance, of the 341 trainees in 2018, 185 were male with 156 female. Trainees have also come from over 25 counties in Ireland which includes 5 in Northern Ireland.
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