Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a range of funding schemes and supports to the youth sector. In 2013 funding of some €53.5 million has been made available for these schemes. This funding will support youth work programmes and youth services serving some 400,000 young people, delivered by over 1,400 youth work personnel, who in turn support a large volunteer base of some 40,000 individuals.

The Deputy is aware that my Department, along with all other Departments, has been required to achieve significant savings on schemes and services in line with the reductions set out in the comprehensive review of expenditure, in line with which there was a cumulative reduction of €7.5 million over the course of the subsequent two budgets.

Obviously, in looking at the determination process for youth allocations, I have sought that the front-line services are protected as much as is possible, particularly services for vulnerable young people. We have asked the bigger organisations to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads. I have also asked the youth sector to co-operate and work together to ensure they can deliver services in local areas so there is no overlap, if at all possible, and we can maintain front-line services for young people.

It should be noted that, under the comprehensive review of expenditure, there has been no cut to the voluntary youth clubs. This funding plays an important role in supporting volunteer-led youth groups and in promoting and leveraging valuable voluntary activity in youth work. In addition, €1.5 million is being provided in 2013 for youth cafes and youth projects. Earlier this year, I outlined the new capital funding scheme for youth cafes and over 90 applications were received by the Department. This shows the demand for these very good initiatives for young people at local level, which the young people themselves suggested were needed in their areas. We are currently reviewing those applications.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Officials of my Department have recently met with representatives of all the national organisations that are funded under the youth service grant scheme to share information and to hear from the organisations about the impact of the reductions in funding on the services that they provide. In addition, I have met with, and continue to meet with, many youth projects and organisations from around the country to try and see how we can work together to ensure the most effective use of the public funding invested in youth services. Only this week I attended a meeting of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee in County Wexford, which was attended by senior representatives of the National Council of Ireland and national youth work organisations.

Finally, my Department is also undertaking a value for money and policy review of youth funding and the findings of this report will inform the future development of youth programmes and services.

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