Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Kerry Diocesan Youth Service is a model organisation and an example of what can be done in dealing with youth in areas with significant social problems and where well-supervised recreational facilities are needed. Over the past 25 years, Kerry Diocesan Youth Service has built an extensive network of facilities and social services. The organisation has its headquarters in Killarney and offices in Tralee, Listowel, Castleisland and youth cafés in towns and villages throughout the county. It provides an essential mobile service which goes out to the remote areas and the little villages in all corners of the county.

I welcome the Minister's announcements about funding but the special projects for youth funding and youth information grants have been gradually reduced over the past five or six years with a reduction of 30%. These are core grants and I ask the Minister if he could escalate these grants and perhaps reconsider how they are applied.

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