Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The youth clubs and youth projects are very significant preventative measures. The Minister spoke earlier about Oberstown. We know there is a disproportionate number of young people and older people from areas such as Dublin 1, 3 and 7 going into Oberstown, Mountjoy and St. Patrick's. These youth clubs and youth projects are doing great work to prevent that. When the young people's facilities and services fund was set up back in 1999, I chaired the group for the north inner city so I know the projects the Minister has mentioned and I know the difference this funding made. I am just wondering about the current position.

Another part of this was the small grants fund. While it was small, it had a very good impact for those projects that were in need of just a small amount of money to run or develop a programme or for somebody in a crisis situation. I would love to see that small grants fund coming back in, if the Minister could find the money for it.

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