Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My Department administered a capital funding scheme in 2016 for youth projects and services which was strictly limited to projects funded under a number of specific schemes. An application for capital funding was received from Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, KDYS, in respect of a European youth centre. Unfortunately, the application was found to be ineligible by the appraisal committee for the youth capital scheme 2016 to 2017 as KDYS is not in receipt of funding under any of the specified schemes. However, I am pleased to note that my Department provided funding of some €505,000 to KDYS in 2016 under other headings. These include funding for youth services under the special projects for youth scheme which supports projects that target young people who are disadvantaged, including young Travellers and young people who are out of school and at risk of drug or substance abuse or homelessness.

Work on the development of a new capital funding scheme for 2017 is under way. My Department is engaging with each education and training board's youth officer to identify the capital needs of the youth sector. I hope to announce details of this new capital scheme in the coming months. I will be happy to explore the options for funding the European youth centre proposal further with KDYS having regard to the resources available to my Department.

See this speech in context