Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I had hoped the Minister might enlighten us further. I am aware that Deputy Bannon was involved and he led them to the mess in which they find themselves by promising them in March 2013 that they would get a grant of €100,000. He facilitated a meeting with the then Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald who confirmed at the meeting that they were eligible in 2013. He brought the Taoiseach to visit the youth café. The Taoiseach is very good at making promises when he is in a constituency and he promised that funding would be available. What is happening in this case is indicative of how this Government treats rural Ireland, with the back of its hand. I refer to the level of funding per person for youth projects received by Longford, which is €29.14, whereas our near neighbours in Westmeath, another part of my constituency, have received €146.88.

Is there a mechanism in place? The youth café works across the social divide. The Minister has alluded to the work of youth cafés in the prevention of drug and alcohol use. The Attic youth café is working with the midlands drugs task force and with Foróige. It is involved in providing courses for those who have dropped out of school. What funding will be available from the youth guarantee scheme? What level of funding did the Minister's Department receive from the youth guarantee scheme to support children and youth who find themselves out of employment and who need some support? The Attic youth café is a flagship project that could give the people of Longford that much-needed support.

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